YOUNG families living at Smallwood Almshouses will now be able to access training onsite - thanks to a scheme being launched by SureStart Redditch.

The organisation is funding an £80,000 extension to the Mount Street building to create crche facilities.

This will allow parents who live at the Almshouses to undertake training while ensuring their children are still cared for in the same building. The training courses range from reading and writing classes to social skills and advice.

This is a partnership project between SureStart Redditch and Bromford Housing Group which owns the Almshouses and will be making internal modifications to create the training facilities.

The extension will be built by Alcester-based Leon Builders. Work was due to begin on Monday and is expected to take around 14 weeks.

Becky Willetts, capital programme manager for SureStart Redditch, said: "Childcare issues can often stop young parents from undertaking training so I'm delighted we're able to help provide crche facilities at the Almshouses."

SureStart is a multi-million pound scheme set up in 2002 to give children the best start in life. Mums-to-be, families and carers with children under four in Abbeydale, Riverside, Smallwood, St Georges, Lodge Park, Lakeside and Batchley can all benefit from its services.

The Government-funded project has a 10-year life span but the facilities and provisions set up during the scheme are expected to become established and be carried on afterwards by other agencies.