Single parents are target for skills development

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) covering Beds, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk and Suffolk will target people in "pockets of deprivation".

Many of them lack basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic.

To try to tackle these problems the agency has launched its �13m "Investing in Communities" programme to try and get people off the breadline.

As a first step it has pledged the cash to boost people's aspirations and skills but needs now to enlist the help of other organisations, companies and individuals in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.

This investment is our commitment to the future of the region Richard Ellis

Target groups include single parents, the disabled and those with a lack of qualifications and they will get help to find work and start their own businesses.

Some of the money will also be channelled into schemes aimed at keeping people in school so they can gain the qualifications and skills they need to pull themselves out of poverty.

EEDA also wants to encourage enterprise in deprived areas, getting more women to start their own businesses and making it easier for ethnic minorities to take an active roll in the area's economy.