TEENAGERS who have spent their childhood in care are being given cash to buy new clothes in a bid to get them into work.

Bolton Council has set aside £40,000 from this year's budget to help children gain employment as they prepare to leave the care of social services.

They will be given £20 a day and have been told they can spend the cash on work clothes, transport to and from work and to help pay or save for their own accommodation.

The teenagers will also be given advice and support under the scheme, Looked After Supported Employment, which is unique to Bolton.

It organises work experience for people aged 16 to 19 within council departments and in the private and voluntary sectors for between three and nine months.

Bolton is the only North-west authority to pay the teenagers a training allowance, which is an incentive to participate in the scheme and helps address financial issues young people can face when moving to independent accommodation.

So far, the scheme, which was set up in 2002, has helped more than 100 teenagers to gain accredited training or a reference from a recognised employer.

Due to its success, there are 10 teenagers waiting for placements but an injection of £40,000 will allow expansion of the scheme.

Cllr Linda Thomas, executive member for children's services, said: "The scheme is something we are extremely proud of as it enables us to help looked-after children gain independence."

She added: "This scheme helps to restore self-confidence and provides young people with the experience of working for a quality employer.

"The extra funding shows we are taking our position as a corporate parent seriously."