Hampshire County Council has nominated four of its social services projects, including two that work with vulnerable children, for the prestigious Health and Social Care Awards 2001.

One of the projects is a website designed by and for young carers in county. The site www.youngcarers.hants.org.uk provides information and advice on activities important to young carers, including support groups, sport, music, health, outdoor activities, homework and access to help.

Another project offers a respite service for people who care for someone with a diability or who is elderly.

The Take a Break Respite Service issues vouchers to people in the Havant area to provide access to flexible respite care. This scheme is a Department of Health pilot scheme under The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 and over the next two years will be extended to other parts of the county.

The two other projects nominated for the awards, to be presented in July, are schemes for older people.

Hampshire's social services director, Terry Butler, praised the staff who had developed the projects and said they were a tribute to their hard work and dedication, at a time of huge demands on the service.

"What characterises these projects is that they improve people's quality of life by giving service users dignity, independence and choice," he said.