A PIONEERING scheme has helped more than 100 offenders in Bolton stay out of trouble.

The project, which began in January, provides basic skills to improve offenders' education and help them gain qualifications.

The scheme was started by Greater Manchester Probation Area and the Learning Skills Council after research found that people who cannot read, write or do sums are far more likely to be jobless, homeless, committing offences or in prison.

John Ormsby, basic skills teacher for Bolton Probation Service, said the scheme had helped to turn around the lives of dozens of offenders.

"In the last eight months, we've seen the scheme help to break the cycle of crime for a lot of people," he said. "We've had around 50 GCSE passes in English and Maths, and people want to go on and study a language or get further qualifications to become a nurse or a counsellor."

In Greater Manchester, all offenders starting community rehabilitation orders are screened for basic skills problems and, if necessary, are offered advice and guidance to take up learning opportunities.

Staff from local colleges then provide reading, writing, arithmetic and information technology tuition - usually on probation premises - for qualifications up to GCSE level.

At the most basic, this can teach offenders to read and understand the rules of their probation supervision, which may be dealing with their drug or alcohol misuse.

It has also been found to improve people's lives and change behaviour for the better. One example was a man who stole to fund his drug habit. He was put on probation, completed the course, gained basic qualifications and got a job.

This stabilised his relationship with his children and he has stopped offending.

Mrs Ormsby said: "Because they see the bigger picture and they are learning alongside people who are not criminals, it helps them to integrate back into the community."