A successful job-finding group is giving hundreds of people a chance to find work at a job fair later this month.

The HOPES Centre at Holme Wood, Bradford - the caring arm of Holme United Reformed Church - has organised the event which will bring 35 employers and training organisations to St George's Hall.

The aim is to help people overcome problems faced by redundancy or the frustration of being in a dead-end job.

The centre is one of Bradford's most successful organisations for finding jobs and developing training for the unemployed.

Focus 2000 - A Festival of Jobs & Training will be held from 10.30am on Wednesday, June 28, and have experts offering jobs, training, advice and support to people seeking work or a change of direction.

The HOPES Centre has held jobs fairs at its own premises in Madison Avenue since 1994 and this is the biggest it has ever organised. The event has been extended thanks to European funding which has also paid for extra workers at the centre over the next three years.

The event is being supported by Bradford College, Bradford Bulls and Bradford's Employment Service.

Employers include Abbey National, Asda, Morrisons and the Inland Revenue. Training organisations, including Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council, will have details of courses to help people improve their skills.

Bradford College will also launch its new Adult Education prospectus for 2000/2001 at the event.

Focus 2000 will also have guest appearances from Bradford Bulls, art displays and musical performances.

Focus 2000 events manager Mike Cansdale said: "The experience of redundancy, frustration of being in dead-end jobs, advances in modern technology means that people need to acquire and update their skills.

"Focus 2000 is a festival of jobs and training for everyone who wanted a brighter future."

He said the centre worked with Bradford College to provide training which boosted the skills levels of people seeking work.