LESSONS learned in Bury by young people are to be passed on to others across the country.

Schemes pioneered locally to give youngsters training and work experience will be highlighted at a regional conference.

Representatives from Bury Council will join their counterparts from around Greater Manchester for a one-day conference,titled "Giving Young People a New Start", next Thursday (Oct 7).

The day is organised by The Crescent Partnership, one of the first nationally-funded New Start projects set up to tackle disaffection in young people.

The idea is to create regional partnerships to help bring people back into a learning environment, with organisations sharing what they have learned.

Speakers include Lord Davies of Oldham, chairman of the Further Education Funding Council, and Claire Tyler, divisional manager with the Department for Education and Employment.

Bury's contribution to the day will be a workshop demonstrating its complimentary extended work experience placements. It will also show off another local project dealing with students aged over 16 enrolling for vocational programmes, who were considered at risk of dropping out or who presented behavioural or attitude difficulties early at college.

Councillor Andrea Hughes, chairman of lifelong learning, said: "The extended work experience placements were designed to enhance education opportunities to motivate young people in their final year of compulsory education.

"The aim was to assist them towards considering vocational, further education and training opportunities. Our other scheme provides support to keep young people in vocational courses.

"We have been pleased by the way both have worked out, and it is good that the lessons we have learned here in Bury can be taken on board by others.

"The conference will also offer us the chance to look at other initiatives, some of which we may want to adopt in the future."

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