WITH reference to Graham Foulds' remarks (Letters, July 22), we can understand how an advertisement for a placement on a positive action training scheme could be misunderstood. May we therefore offer a new words of explanation?

The 12 month training position has been funded by the association as part of its Positive Action Training in Housing (PATH) scheme. With the support of central government and the Commission for Racial Equality, many housing associations and local authorities have been running similar schemes for several years.

People from black and ethnic minority communities often lose out when it comes to education and job opportunities.

By providing training, the PATH scheme simply seeks to even out the kind of imbalances that can and do exist.

The idea is that, after taking part on a PATH placement, people who, because of their racial background, find it even harder than others to find employment have the chance to compete for jobs on an equal footing.

North British Housing Association is strongly committed to equal opportunities for all. We want our workforce to genuinely reflect the local communities where we work. This scheme is just one of the ways we are trying to redress unfairness where it exists.

PATRICK O'BRIEN, Area Director (East Lancashire), North British Housing Association, Park House, Preston New Road, Blackburn.

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