A COMPUTER firm is helping long term unemployed people get back to work with a new scheme.

Thripplewoods Computer Store - part of the P&P group - has joined forces with Castle training which offers information technology training to more than 300 jobless people a year.

The Haslingden firm is donating computer equipment to the training scheme to help with their NVQ courses in electronic engineering and computer maintenance.

"We are giving Castle redundant computers that people can strip down and use to practice on," said Ginnie Ratcliffe of Thripplewoods.

"We are delighted to be able to help in this way particularly as many of the students then go on to gain full-time employment once they have achieved their qualifications."

Senior tutor on the course Tom Willis said the donations would be a major help.

"Without this equipment we would have been hard pressed to offer students hands-on experience of working on computers."

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