Windfall to help young people

OLDHAM has been promised £230,000 to help young people leaving care and boost teaching provision for teenagers in the town.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls announced that a bid by Our Lady’s RC High School for £165,000 to provide better teaching facilities and equipment for students who are studying for the Public Services Diploma, and better accommodation for the Royton detachment of the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force which uses the school, had been successful.

Council chiefs said Our Lady’s RC High School is the lead school in the area for the Public Services Diploma and next year availability on the course will increase from 150 places to more than 250.

Mr Balls said: “I want these winning projects to lay down a marker, not just for their local communities but the rest of the country.”

And in addition, £65,000 will go to a joint project between Oldham Council and North Manchester Methodist Housing Association to provide more accommodation for young people leaving care.

The money will be used to provide more flats at a centre for those leaving care and a training room for professionals involved in the welfare of vulnerable young people.

Oldham’s cash was part of a £200 million package spilt across 101 different projects nationwide.

Oldham’s cabinet member for children, young people and families Kay Knox said: “Looking after vulnerable young people is one of our top priorities, so I am delighted that we will now be able to offer this extra help to young people at a time when they need extra support.”

Project organisers will receive their funding straight away. The £200m was set aside in the Children’s Plan, announced in December.

In a separate announcement, Mr Balls pledged £2.7m to Oldham council to improve services for children with special educational needs .