BURY'S asylum-seeker manager is in the running to win the national Public Servant of the Year 2005 award.

Karen Young has beaten 180 individuals working throughout the UK to become a finalist in the awards, which are held in London on April 21.

Karen is a finalist in the Making a Difference to People category, the award for social inclusion.

She is up against a firefighter from West Yorkshire and a district nursing sister from Enniskillen.

If successful in her category, she could win the overall top award.

There are around 450 asylum-seekers in the borough, and Karen leads the team that works to support and integrate them into the community.

The team has produced a Welcome to Bury information pack in five languages, arranged an inter-schools football event, and a job shadow scheme with the neighbourhood street wardens which will be extended.

Karen said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been shortlisted for this award.

"It is a reflection of the fantastic work my team carries out to welcome and integrate asylum-seekers into Bury."

A TWO-YEAR strategy called Bury Welcomes Asylum-Seekers and Refugees will be launched on Tuesday at the Bury Town Hall.

Produced by the Multi-Agency Forum for Asylum-Seekers, which is co-ordinated by Bury Council, its aim is to co-ordinate and improve services to meet the needs of asylum-seekers and refugees.

Projects to help them integrate so far include sports events, clothing distribution sessions, provision of food packs, social conversation classes, and a dance exhibition.

There has also been English language support in schools, educational toys, baby packs, and family link work.