A HYNDBURN environmental charity is hoping to use the 'Year of the Volunteer' to encourage more people to get involved in its work.

The Government has designated 2005 as the special year to raise the profile of the work volunteers do and get more people to give up some of their free time.

Prospects Foundation, an charity that works for lasting environmental change in Hyndburn, has set up a committee to organise events aimed at raising awareness of green issues.

The committee has decided to give each month a theme, with January designated Health Month, and the charity will urge people to get healthy and burn off those Christmas calories by volunteering.

People can joining their nearest Prospects Panel, located in many areas across the borough, or they can join the foundation's volunteer working group, which meets on the last Saturday of every month to work on a variety of projects.

The first meeting is on January 29 when members will plant trees at the Millennium Baby Woodland, Altham. For more details, call on 380675.