A YOUTH education and training charity is hoping to change as many young lives as possible having relocated to a bigger site in Bury.

Rathbone Training, which had previously been based in Brierley Street near Gigg Lane for more than 15 years, has opened its new centre at Carne House, in Parson’s Lane, in the town centre.

Charity managing director Ian Webber, said: “It is a brilliant move for a number of reasons.

“We have been in Bury for a long time but we are now closer to the town centre which is better for our learners and better for relationships with employers – basically it will be easier to get our learners into the world of employment.

"Also it is a nice space with more room and a nicer environment.

"It can only be a positive.”

Speaking at the open day to launch the new facility was 16-year-old Francesca Coe, who has turned her life around with help from Rathbone.

Francesca struggled at college in Rochdale because she had not passed her English Language and Maths GCSEs, but with the help of Rathbone’s tutors she has passed this year and will follow her dream of training to be a hairdresser at Bury College from September.

Francesca, from Heywood, said: “I am very excited and I am going to find college much more enjoyable this time around.

“Rathbone has helped me believe in myself more and I have become much more confident.

“They have taught me to not give up and to just keep trying again.

“I am proud of myself because I never thought I would be able to do it.”

She hopes to complete her Level One, Two and Three hairdressing qualifications and specialise in wedding hairdressing.

She added: “It is someone’s special day and means everything to them so you you are more motivated to do it well.”

Centre-based tutor Katie Thorpe, said: “We are all massively proud of Francesca.

“When she first started the idea of going back to college would not have been one she would have entertained.

“There has been a huge improvement in her confidence and the way she can now speak in front of people is just unbelievable.

“I am very confident that she is now ready.”

Speaking at the opening, Bury North MP James Frith said: “It is to be celebrated that an organisation like Rathbone is in Bury and setting up in the town centre, and I am very happy to be supporting them today.

“Young people like Francesca deserve a second chance to learn and Bury will benefit from her getting that second chance.”

Rathbone offers study programmes, apprenticeships and traineeships for 16 to 18 year olds who are finding it difficult to find work or struggling at college.

The charity is looking to help more young people in Bury.

If you’d like to join the Rathbone centre then get in touch by email: external.communication@rathboneuk.org or call 0161 762 5740.