A SUCCESSFUL new help group is hoping to add professional volunteers to its books.

Add-a-Voice, the local advocacy development group for Leigh and Wigan, is seeking to strengthen its management committee with people with accounting or business experience.

The group, based in Church Street, Leigh, has had a busy first year of a three year project funded by the National Lottery Charities Board.

It is about people having a voice and being listened to, and speaking up on behalf of, or with, people who may not be able to speak for themselves.

In the year Add-a-Voice has worked with six voluntary groups within the borough, helping them to identify their needs, work on developing policies and providing training in advocacy, while at the same time supporting many individuals who have sought help.

Willing volunteers with a few hours to spare each month should contact 01942-601563.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.