A PROJECT designed to give young people in one area of Bolton something to do, could lead one of them to pop chart stardom.

For the Harmony Youth Project, based in the Hibbert Street area of the town to promote arts-based interests, includes visits to a local recording studio.

"Some very interesting tracks have been recorded," said Charlie Barrett, the project co-ordinator, "and who knows where that can lead?"

The Harmony Project, where "dreams live in your art", is Charlie Barrett's own dream. The youth worker and former disc jockey wanted to help the young people who live in the area, but, having worked in "official" youth work, was not a believer in the "coffee bar and table-tennis" style of youth clubs. "Harmony is arts based, and that encompasses the whole range of the arts," he said, "because this is something that kids are interested in. I don't mean classical music and ballet of course, although if we could get them interested in that we'd be equally delighted, but the idea is to offer them something other than hanging on street corners, vandalism and whatever else that can lead to."

And project administrative co-ordinator Nicky Ashton, added: "Of course there are job opportunities, but it is the confidence and self-empowering that really counts."

Harmony, based at the Hibbert Street centre, in Halliwell, offers a wide range of activities including dance tuition, DJ training, MC tuition, drama, voice training, creative writing/composing, mixing desk techniques, art classes, an introduction into sound engineering and a lot more! "These activities take us to our ultimate aim, which is empowering young people and building confidence, team working skills, self-esteem and turning negative behavioural patterns into positive ones," added Charlie.

And Nicky said: "Nobody is claiming that anyone can walk into here and, some months later have a record in the charts or get a job -- but they will be given know-how and knowledge, which they cannot learn on a street corner and it's a lot more fun!

"Most importantly, though, is the self-esteem that comes from the successful creation of music, or a painting or a story. And there is a bonus to the musical side of things as well. Can you think of anything else that can bring a white lad, an Asian and an Afro-Caribbean together?" Although the basis for the Harmony Project is the performing arts, it has already begun to spread its wings into sports. The idea is that we go where the kids want us to go, we give them what they want, not what a committee might think they want," said Charlie.

"Of course we do have problems" he added, "as a volunteer project -- we are all volunteers -- we are always short of money, we have to spend too much time fund raising. Then, we are always short of workers, one of the things we insist on is that all activities are totally supervised.

"We used to be open on two nights a week and we were very busy. Then we had to close one of the nights because of lack of money.

"We've got hold of some cash again and are open both nights.

"We may come and go, as funds allow, but those youngsters are always there, whether we are or not." Much of the support for the project, comes from local businesses and Charlie is keen on expanding 'in kind' assistance. "On the sports side I would appreciate contact with a gym, a pool or snooker hall, a kick-boxing or similar place," he said, "somewhere where these kids would never expect to be able to go, either because of age or because they could not afford it.

"It would be great if some of the kids could visit. Of course we can guarantee that they would be adequately supervised at all times." The Harmony Project brings the stuff of dreams down to earth for many young people in the area. Of course everyone is aware that it takes more luck than talent to have a number one record, but as Charlie says, no-one ever wrote, devised and recorded a song while standing on a street corner.

Would you like to help? Contact The Harmony Project telephone Charlie Barrett on 07989 476994 or Nicky Ashton on 07980 073525.