A PENDLE church will be used as a family centre to help single parents get back into work.

Part of St Philip's, Leeds Road, Nelson, will be used to look after children before and after school so that parents, particularly those on their own, can take up training and jobs.

A teacher will be taken on to give remedial and homework help to youngsters during an after-school club and the centre will also offer volunteer training with NVQ qualifications for people who need help getting employment.

The project will be launched in the spring following the opening of the new St John's Church in nearby Barkerhouse Road.

The parishes of St John's and St Philip's were merged following the demolition of the former St John's because of structural defects.

Since then the congregations have worshipped at St Philip's. The new St John's will be officially opened and consecrated by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverend Alan Chesters, on May 14 and services will be held at the new church from then on.

Services will continue to be held at St Philip's, but the new church will allow space at the Leeds Road church to be used for the family centre.

The project will be funded by European and Government cash via Pendle Council's successful application to get financial help for its five most deprived wards, including Bradley, where St Philip's is. The project was also backed by Christian charity Tear Fund. There is enough money to cover the centre's running costs for two full years and part-way into a third.

The centre will initially open between 7am and 9am and 3.30pm to 6pm.

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