A pioneering project to get young people in care into university is underway in the Grimsby-area.

North East Lincolnshire Council is piloting an initiative, believed to be the only one of its kind in the country, to enable young people in local authority care to go to college, university and work. The project could be the blueprint for others around the country.

The Government's Social Exclusion Unit visited the council to look at the project, gathering evidence for their report on improving education for children in care.

Nationally, children in care have statistically lower levels of educational achievement than those looked after in the parental home and find it difficult to get to college or university. These difficulties increase when a young person is disabled.

Vicky Lawson, principle care manager for looked after children, said: "We recognise that it is particularly difficult for young people who have been in the care system to access higher education without parental support.

"We are totally committed to helping the young people we look after and we pull out all the stops to help them achieve their full potential."

The council's 16-plus team helps young people get student loans and an education maintenance allowance of £100 a week during the holidays and, where appropriate, a range of disabled student allowances.

Each student also receives a weekly allowance of £58.60.

To enable young people to keep contact with their home town, the authority pays for any rent costs so students can come home during the holidays. The directorate also pays a travel allowance to allow students to keep in contact with relatives or carers in term-time.

Each student is given a computer and a book allowance of £100 a year.

So far, four students at university and around 50 students at college have been supported by the authority.

One student has qualified as a social worker and is now employed by the council.

Coun Mick Burnett, Learning and Childcare portfolio holder, said: "We believe we are leading the field in our practical support of the young people we look after. The 16-plus team has done a tremendous job in encouraging youngsters to opt for higher education and the authority has put its money where its mouth is to back the team.

"It says a great deal about our commitment to young people that one of our care leavers who we supported through university has now opted to come and work for us."