A PIONEERING scheme which aims to aid local Asian families is looking for help itself. The Asian Mediation Service was originally set up as a project in 1992 by Jamil Mohammed for the local authority. It was successful enough to be taken within social services last year.

Now, the service - based at The Woodlands on Manchester Road - is about to be re-launched with residential social worker Nusrat Khan as co-ordinator while Jamil is on secondment.

The scheme provides help for local Asian families with conflicts between family members. "It may be between first and second generation or second and third," explained Jamil.

"It could be adolescent problems, difficulties over an arranged marriage or other problems caused between two cultures.

"We aim to bridge the gap, and provide someone to whom all the family members can talk." To expand the service, it urgently needs volunteers.

Nusrat wants to hear from Asian men and women, over 21, from various cultural and religious backgrounds who are interested in this kind of mediation work.

Training and support are ongoing, and, as Nusrat points out, this kind of voluntary work can easily provide a stepping stone to a career in social work or associated jobs.

To find out more, contact her on Bolton 370902.

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