A COMMUNITY-wide project to expand learning and improve job prospects in St Helens was due to bring Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett to the town this week.

He was to launch the St Helens Learning Partnership, which provides a crucial link between learners and the education sector, to ensure that learning provision matches local needs. The Learning Partnership will provide the direction and leadership to help St Helens to regenerate its economy and rebuild its skills base.

The Partnership promotes Lifelong Learning throughout the borough - part of a national drive to improve people's skills and enable them to cope with career change through life.

Mr Blunkett said: "Improving people's skills is crucial to Britain's success in today's highly competitive global economy - and this Government is committed to creating a society in which access to learning is available to all.

"Initiatives such as the St Helens Learning Partnership go a long way towards expanding access to learning for local people. And such access is crucial if we are to reduce inequality, improve job prospects, boost community development and social inclusion, and provide a better quality of life".

The St Helens Learning Partnership brings together organisations that have a strategic role in the provision of learning and training throughout the borough. They include the local education authority, St Helens Chamber, several local colleges, the careers and employment services, and local companies, churches and trade unions. It builds on the long established local Forum for Education and Training, covering learning throughout life, and responds to the government's policy outlined in the White Paper 'Learning to Succeed'.

St Helens is a member of the Learning Cities Network, a national organisation with European and international links, which aims to develop lifelong learning as a key requirement of economic and social regeneration.