Jump in, the water's lovely

Liverpool's long-term unemployed are being asked to take the plunge into a unique Training for Work course - by starting each session with a jacuzzi.

Merseyside Training and Enterprise "positive thinking" courses, run by John Moores University lecturer Keith Elliott, aim to rebuild confidence and motivation.

And the TEC says the sessions are creating enough of a splash to justify the daily dip. Of the ten people on the first course, six have gone on to gain qualifications and one has a job placement.

"The course is aimed at the very long-term unemployed who have been out of work at least two years," said Merseyside TEC spokeswoman Lindsey Macdonald.

"They start the day in a jacuzzi where everyone is equal. You have not got power dressing so they do not feel deterred or perturbed by their surroundings and they can relax and discuss the programme for the day. Then they get out and start the formal training for the day."

The three-day course is held at a four-star hotel which has donated use of the jacuzzi free of charge.

"We felt it was an unusual way of getting people involved in a course," said Ms Macdonald. "Numbers are small but it is one way of introducing some success into the lives of some individuals."

"It has been a significant turning point for me," said user Anne Hirst, who has now enrolled on courses at Liverpool Community College after being out of work for 15 years.