A YOUNG couple are about to hit the schools of Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Barnard Castle in an attempt to make religious education accessible.

Gale Brazier and her fiance Ben Dowding, both aged 19, are members of Pais, a Christian organisation, which works in schools.

Ben, originally from Richmond, and Gale, from Doncaster, are to work with children in primary and secondary schools.

Their main aims are to give practical help to the community by offering a free service to local schools and to assist in educating pupils in mainstream Christian beliefs.

Pais says it does not promote any one church or denomination.

Gale, who attended college in Darlington, said: We address a wide range of social, moral, spiritual and Biblical issues.

"We look at image and peer pressure, the bible, sex and relationships, worship, bullying and human rights, as well as many other issues.

"We use a wide range of mediums to look at these, for example drama, dance, tricks, puppets and mimes and we do these things through lessons, assemblies and lunch clubs."

Both Ben and Gale, who met while studying performing arts at Darlington College, have been with Pais for a year, and have been working for local churches involved in youth and child work.

Gale said: "It is voluntary work that we do, and I've really enjoyed working with Pais for the past year. It has really helped me to grow, and it's great fun as well."

All people in the team which will be working in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Barnard Castle are trained youth and school workers and are fully police checked.

They are all also committed Christians and work for their local churches doing youth and children's work.

The team will begin working in the area in the near future, and are available to be booked for next term.

This service is free to be used by schools in whatever way they can, and schools are asked to book the service in advance to ensure a date.

For more information call Ben Dowding on 07974 306560.