BURY SOUTH MP Ivan Lewis has enabled union members to improve their skills and develop new interests with £9 million government money for the new Union Learning Fund projects.

The fund enables unions to help workers from all sectors of the economy benefit from learning opportunities at work, in areas ranging from IT and languages to basic literacy and numeracy skills training. To be awarded funding, projects have to show how they could get more people to take up courses to improve their skills, self confidence and employability.

Giving approval for 48 new projects worth more than £9 million, Minister for Young People and Adult Skills, Bury South MP Ivan Lewis said: "These successful bids will enable members of 25 unions across England to access new learning and training opportunities."