TWO pilot schemes that encourage people to improve their communities have been praised by a Government minister.

The North-East-wide Regen School project and the Sunderland-based CofroCo sch-eme had instilled belief and confidence in local communities, Lord Rooker, the Minister of State for Regeneration, said.

Regen School promotes learning away from classrooms by using shared experiences.

CofroCo used local people as consultants to carry out feasibility studies into setting up an employment network.

It was so successful that on completion of the work, those employed as consultants continued to work as a team, moving into commercial work and competing with conventional consultants.

Both projects were set up thanks to funding from, among others, the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Lord Rooker, who was commenting on an independent report that evaluated the usefulness of the pilot schemes, said: "Over the years, many residents have built up extensive knowledge of what works in changing their communities for the better."