A voluntary organisation is putting unemployed people on the road to a successful career - quite literally.

The Oxford Unemployed Workers' and Claimants' Union, based in Cowley Road, east Oxford, has been awarded more than £104,000 from central Government to teach unemployed people and single parents to drive.

One in three job vacancies demand that the post-holder can drive - But only half of long-term unemployed people have a full driving licence.

Project co-ordinator Jim Barlow said: "It's not just driving jobs, it's a lot of sales jobs, even a lot of community-based jobs.

"If you haven't got a car, you're very much a second class citizen. Really they should teach people to drive at school but they don't." The Government cash, which is to be distributed over three years, will be used to teach between 75 and 100 people. The organisation will also be running bus driver taster courses with the Oxford Bus Company.

The scheme was one of four Oxfordshire organisations to receive cash help under the Government's new community learning initiative.

The Oxfordshire Chinese Community Advice Centre received £35,000 to provide English language tuition for catering workers, young mothers and elderly people.

The NCH Action for Children received £10,000 to analyse learning needs of young parents while Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Probation service received £10,000 to help clients acquire basic skills.

Story date: Monday 15 February

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