DISABLED Bury students can improve their chances of gaining full-time jobs thanks to vital funding.

Bury Employment Support and Training (Bury EST) has successfully bid for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) cash to work with Bury College.

During the six months of the funding, students will be given the chance to combine their studies with workplace experiences.

The Making It Work project aims to prepare students for the challenges they will face when they leave college and seek employment.

For years, students found it difficult to find and keep a job after completing their studies as they made the transition to independence and inclusion in the community.

Dennie Ford, Bury EST project co-ordinator, said: “This is the first time we have attracted funding for a project which will help young people with disabilities to decide which industry they want to work in and learn what it is like in a workplace.”

Dennie knows the project can only be successful if local companies offer work placements.

An event launch in Bury attracted 14 employers, all of whom expressed an interest to get involved and to offer work placements.

Bury EST and Dennie are now working on a plan to involve the employers and with the tutors to prepare more students.

There are more than 600 college students with disabilities.

For information on the project, call Dennie at Bury EST on 0161 761 4662.