A TRAINING scheme which offers new skills to residents of South Stanley has received a grant of £45,000 to sustain it over the next three years.

The Bridge Enterprise Centre for the past five years has provided informal learning opportunities for local people.

The funding has come from the Greggs Trust, to help with the centre's running costs.

Open from Monday to Friday, it offers a wide variety of courses including healthy eating, cooking, first aid, computer literacy and information technology.

People can also learn about web design, digital photography, local history, languages, painting and drawing, crystal healing, glass painting, creative writing and there are exercise classes.

The centre's community development manager, Carol Howdon, said: "We are very grateful to Greggs Trust for its support.

"Since we started, we have helped more than 200 people to achieve certificates in accredited training courses.

"We have also enabled the development of five self-help groups and assisted three people to set up their own business. It's great to know we have the financial security to continue our work."

In addition to the courses that the centre runs, most of which are free to people receiving benefits, it offers a drop-in facility with access to the Internet and a job search provision.

Two full-time members of staff are assisted by volunteers.

Greggs Trust manager Jenni Wagstaff said: "The area in which the centre is situated is very deprived, with many residents living on low incomes, suffering from a disability and long-term unemployment.

"The project seems to achieve so much, with so little funding, that I know our grant will go a long way to help keep what is a vital resource for the local community in operation."