A PIONEERING scheme providing vital support for parents in Bolton has been given a cash boost from the Millennium Awards fellowship.

Naseem Batasi, a full-time volunteer with Bolton's Learning Links project, joined around 200 other award winners from around the country when she met Tony Blair at the launch of the Millennium Awards Fellowship at Whitehall.

Bolton received a £2,570 slice of a £2.8 million grant awarded to the Pre-school Learning Alliance by the Millennium Commission with the aim of encouraging parents and other family members to work and learn together.

One of the first 25 projects to receive an award, the Bolton branch of the scheme is off to a great start.

Work started in November at Sharples Primary School when parents attended the first workshop organised by Learning Links.

The objective is to give parents, with English as their second language, the confidence to help their own child learn at home.

This includes giving parents an understanding of the education system and tips about helping their youngsters with homework.

The Millennium Awards Scheme is designed to strengthen family and community networks and is backed by 10 of the leading charitable and educational bodies including BBC Education, Basic Skills Agency, The Library Association, Local Government Association, National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisation, National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Parenting Education and Support Forum, Parent Network and the Workers' Educational Association.

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