COUNCIL staff are lending a helping hand to children in care -- by letting them go to work at their offices.

The Teenagers to Work initiative involves taking school leavers who have little or no contact with their parents and giving them a chance to work alongside council staff.

Children who are looked after by the local authority often have no-one to turn to for advice when it comes to choosing what career they want.

Members of the children's services department felt that not only did these children need sound advice from adults with their best interests at heart, but also the chance to get an insight into the world of work.

And with the council providing so many different services for the community, they felt there was no better place to offer work experience than working for the council themselves.

David Spikes is a 16-year-old who is in the care of the local authority. He first became aware of this scheme when he got a letter inviting him to chose what sort of job he would like to do.

"I picked working with the council's vehicle maintenance department," said David.

"I really want to be a motor mechanic so when I get a car I'll be able to fix it up properly.

"I had a great day working with Bob, who has been with the council for 21 years. I helped repair six mowers in the morning, and then in the afternoon we worked on a machine that paints the lines down the middle of the road.

"It was only one day this time, but in the summer I am going to work there for four weeks."

The scheme is an extension of the council's role as a "corporate parent" and is part of a national campaign by the Government to help to prepare children in care for adult life.

Daphne Sanders is Blackpool's assistant director for children's services and says that the project could give the children the chance to learn about jobs they may never have thought of.

She added: "This initiative will help to improve the skills and employment prospects of our looked-after children, as well as giving them a better insight into the many different roles the council plays and an opportunity to provide us with feedback from their perspective."