FAMILIES will be able to learn together in a new centre based at a Bolton school.

The Great Lever Family Learning Centre is offering a wealth of different courses, activities and resources for both parents and children.

The centre is on the site of Hayward School and the south campus of Bolton Sixth Form centre in Lever Edge Lane. It is the first facility to be installed at Hayward as part of its transformation into an extended service school.

Under this initiative, a number of different facilities will be added to the Hayward site, such as childcare, health and social care, so that it will become a type of "one stop shop" in the community where visitors to a single site will be able to access a variety of services.

It is believed to be the future of education and encapsulates the vision the Government has for the way schools are to be developed.

The family learning centre is being run by the Bolton Literacy Trust charity and is based in a separate building from the school.

It is bright and airy with sofas and chairs, bookcases full of books and there will soon be a computer suite.

The Trust's slogan is "opening the book of life for everyone in Bolton".

Parents will be able to take part in aromatherapy sessions and homeopathy or relaxation sessions to combat ailments such as depression, sleep problems, allergies or eczema. They can also learn computer skills; arts and crafts or even child protection or first aid skills.

There will be a course especially for parents of teenagers which will tackle "issues" commonly associated with the teens, such as alcohol abuse or bullying.

Cyber cafe sessions will allow parents to use the internet and email.

Young people will also be able to enjoy the facilities. They will be able to borrow books and receive extra support in language, numeracy and literacy. Reading groups will also be held there.

Resources include story sacks for young children, containing a fiction and non fiction book and a selection of furry animal toys that represent the characters in the book.

Many of the resources are targeted at children who need a little bit of extra support with spelling, reading, writing and maths.

A highlight of the room is a KIT machine, created by a local businessman, with which youngsters play a mixture of educational games or "pub" style games on a large video screen using controls similar to that of a PlayStation.

It even allows youngsters to have a go at karaoke. Up to 30 children can play at a time and some games are linked to the national curriculum.

Hayward School youngsters will be allowed to use the machine as a reward for good attendance or for achieving targets. Primarily the centre will be used by Hayward parents and pupils, although any parents from the Great Lever area will be able to join in.

Sue Hoey, manager of Bolton Literacy Trust, said research has shown that parents who were interested in education had children who did better in school.

"By becoming more involved in their children's learning or understanding, parents can help children with what they are doing at school. It is helping parents to help their children."

Sandra Telleck, project officer of the Trust said: "We are holding a consultation with members of the public where they can suggest any courses or activities they would like to see in the Great Lever area."

One of the courses they are considering introducing is a nutritional cookery course.

Currently in the Great Lever area learning opportunities are provided for parents at the Sure Start centre, although this is aimed at parents who have children of nursery age.

The family learning centre will not have those limitations and will be aimed at parents of children of all ages. Pensioners are also welcome to take advantage of the facilities and already there have been visits from residents of the nearby sheltered accommodation, Windsor Court.

Mrs Telleck said: "People will be welcome to drop in at any time and hopefully after half term we will have a structured programme."

She added that because the centre was not attached to the school physically, parents who feel apprehensive about going into school should feel more relaxed about coming in.

The Family Learning Centre will be officially launched on Thursday. The BBC GMR bus will be on site all day and visitors will be able to take part in broadcasting related activities.

There will be interactive sports quizzes on KIT, Thai Chi sessions, silk painting, homeopathy and children's craft and colouring activities. The Mayor, Cllr Prentice Howarth, will officially open the centre.