A PIONEERING project is aspiring to give Blackpool's homeless a real helping hand from a new community resource centre due to open in January 2002.

Aspire on Ripon Road, in association with the Rough Sleepers' Unit, aims to break the vicious circle homeless people often find themselves in when trying to hold down a permanent job.

Project co-ordinator Nigel Taylor explained: "As part The Helping Hand Charity we are providing full-time employment and also helping with the transition into full-time employment for ex-offenders and drug abusers as well as the homeless.

"But the thing that is different about Aspire is that it is entirely self-supporting and not just a hand-out.

"All the workmen converting the building are from our own building company and we also employ staff from our own office services company and our own furniture restoration company.

"When we open we will be operating a Fair Trade catalogue service from this base and running it like a proper business. We should be ready to open by October but the official launch will be in January.

"The catalogue offers some fabulous products for the home as well as gifts for Christmas etc and I really hope the local community will give us a helping hand by buying something when the catalogue is delivered."

Aspire was launched in Bristol in 1999 and in its first year helped 15 people into full-time work, many of whom were rough sleeping. All were housed within two weeks.

By the end of 2001 Aspire hopes to be employing around 130 homeless and ex-homeless and the Government is looking at the Aspire model as a new way to combat social exclusion.

After an initial six-month employment at the Ripon Road centre, workers are then offered opportunities at one of the Helping Hands co-op sections.

Blackpool Challenge Partnership gave funds for Helping Hands to buy the former Blackpool and The Fylde College building that now houses Aspire. Partnership manager Alan Cavill said: "We see it as a very valuable step in the way the council deals with homelessness in the area. There are many projects up and running for health and homeless welfare but nothing when it comes to getting a full-time job and contributing to the community.

"A lot of people just associate the BCP with the casino venture but we are involved in many social projects and we are here to see that everyone benefits." For further information on the Fair Trade catalogue call Nigel Taylor on (01253) 621599.