A PROJECT in Hartlepool aimed at giving youngsters in the town a good start in life has reached another milestone.

The Sure Start (South) initiative has run its first training course to enable six people to become volunteers in the community.

Funded by the Government, Sure Start aims to ensure youngsters under four-year-old get the best possible start in life in relation to health, their ability to learn, and their social and emotional development.

Specialist Sure Start staff work with parents in the town's Owton Manor, Rossmere and Seaton Grange areas, to give them help, advice and training in a range of areas including diet, nutrition and parenting skills.

The six people who undertook the course will each gain the Teesside Regional Open College Network (TROCN) qualification - Volunteering In Your Community.

Avis Borough, Sure Start (South) parent support and education co-ordinator, said: "Although we have been running a number of training courses for the community for some time now, this is the first complete volunteer course we have run, and we are delighted to see such commitment and dedication from our volunteers."