A PROJECT to improve the lot of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in Accrington has moved into the dotcom world.

The Accrington, Church and Great Harwood (ACG) Partnership was set up in September 1999 to help tackle social exclusion, focusing on the Blackburn Road area.

As part of their consultation process the ACG partnership has taken to the internet to tell locals about their work, as well as taking lessons from an Irish group which recently celebrated 10 years helping regenerate its town.

The Accrington-based partnership set up the website which will be regularly updated to allow people to find out what the partnership is doing and allow them to contact it via email.

Public, private and community sector partners are involved in the project to boost the area and help local people into long-term stable jobs.

Partnership manager Solat Chaudhry said: "A website is almost an essential these days."

County Coun Frank McKenna, Lancashire County Council's welfare rights and social inclusion chairman, said: "The internet is just one way to let people know about the hard work and achievements of these partnerships.

"It is accessible in places like local libraries as well as at home if you have your own computer.

"The website will play a vital role, along with the local media, in keeping people informed. He added: "It is vital the efforts they are putting into regeneration and social inclusion are as widely known as possible."

The ACG partnership was one of the organisations which successfully bid for SRB6 and Surestart funding, which will give the area a £10million boost over the next few years. The organisation also recently hosted a delegation from Limerick in Ireland.

The Irish group was able to explain how their scheme, People Action Against Unemployment Ltd (PAUL) battled many similar problems over the last 10 years.

Paul Hamnafin, vice chairman of PAUL, said: "Some of the situations here in Hyndburn are very similar to those in Ireland, and there is now a great challenge for the ACG Partnership."

The website can be found at www.lancsbbc.org.uk.

Picture: County Coun Jean Battle with the Irish delegation