A NEW organisation is being launched to highlight the needs of young disabled people and give them advice.

Disability Outlook plans to set up a young disabled person's forum aimed at 14- to 30-year-olds around Durham.

The organisation is looking to form a committee of young disabled people who will be trained to help other youngsters tackle problems or raise an issue they want highlighting.

Joy Fenwick, who has cerebral palsy and is working on the project, said: "The issues might be that they want more accessible public transport for disabled people or they might want better education and more communication support in colleges, or better care.

"It might be something entirely different but whatever it is, the young disabled person's forum committee will do their best to get things changed in Durham for the better for all disabled people.

"Some young people might just have an everyday problem that they need help with, for example, parents, drugs, sex.

"It might be something that we haven't thought of but the committee can advise and support them.''

She added that the forum would also be open to organising activities suggested by its members.

"The forum is there for fun too, nights out, bar meals. Whatever the young people want to do, we will do as it is going to be their forum, not ours.''

Anyone interested in the young people's forum can get more details from Disability Outlook by telephone/ Minicom on (0191) 371 2879 and by fax on (0191) 371 2222.

People can also-email the organisation at YoungPersonForumm, to rai