A CHURCH is setting out on a mission to improve employment opportunities in Farnworth.

Farnworth Baptist Church has receive £10,000 in funding from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme which will be used to help boost skills and employment in the area.

The money will fund the employment of a part-time tutor who will teach English and mathematics classes for people wanting to improve their skills, as well as an administrator.

Working 15 hours a week, they will also deliver training courses in food hygiene and health and safety to help residents reinforce their CVs, boost their confidence and improve chances of getting a job.

Rev. John Bradbury said: "This funding will make a real difference to the church.

"Not only will it allow us to secure employment for someone, but it will also allow us to offer more services and activities that will benefit the local community."

The funding programme, run by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust which was launched in 1999, is aimed at helping former coal mining communities that continue to struggle with the effects of mine closures decades later.

Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Head of Operations in England, Andy Lock added: "The Coalfields Community Investment programme allows us to support the fantastic work of organisations like Farnworth Baptist Church.

"Without community focused programmes, people would not have access to the support they so desperately need. Not only does this investment create jobs but it also improves the skills, health and wellbeing of service users."