OVER-FIFTIES are being offered the chance to work alongside primary school children as part of a pilot project launched in east Cleveland this week.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants to recruit a class of 15 fifty-somethings to train as technology support assistants in primary schools throughout the area in a scheme funded by the Government's New Deal 50-plus.

Each of the assistants would be employed on a 24-week contract by individual schools during the training, which will involve course work and in-school sessions, with the possibility of full-time employment.

People who want to get involved need to be over the age of 50 and have been unemployed for the past six months.

Computer skills are not essential, but a bright personality is necessary.

Councillor Ian Jeffrey, the council's lead member for lifelong learning and leisure, believes the initiative can have a three-fold benefit.

"A great number of 50-plus feel they are no longer required, but this scheme proves they are needed and gives them an opportunity to return to work. It's a great chance to link the old and the young and, of course, it helps to satisfy an increasing demand for IT support in our schools."

Brian Robinson, the council's ICT centre manager, based at the Redcar Educational Development Centre, has devised the course.

"I'm delighted we will be pioneering the scheme. And I'm confident there will be a demand for it.

"We can't promise a full-time job for everyone, but I believe we can offer a real chance of employment to a lot of people."

Redcar MP Vera Baird has also given the scheme her backing.

"I welcome the council's pathfinder initiative, which will target a particularly disadvantaged group - older people have a lifetime of experience to pass on to the pupils in primary schools."

For details on the course and how to enrol, call the ICT Centre on (01642) 286688.