DESPITE what country and western star Dolly Parton says, working nine-to-five could become a way to earn a living for many more Southampton residents - thanks to a new work experience scheme.

The Scratch work experience programme will be launched early next year, subject to full technical approval, after the Outer Shirley Regeneration Board gave a £60,000 grant to the group.

Now unemployed residents in the outer Shirley area - Millbrook, Maybush, Coxford, Redbridge, and parts of Shirley - will get the chance to take part in a variety of courses including furniture repair and upholstery, warehousing, on-site training in white good repairs and cooker installation, delivery, removals and stock control.

The courses are geared around getting a first foothold on the employment ladder. NVQ opportunities will also be available to those enrolling on the programme.

Scratch is a registered charity and volunteers are currently busy making furniture and other household items which will become Christmas presents for cash-strapped individuals and families.

It is estimated that 40 to 50 people from the outer Shirley area will participate in the training programme - set to be based in the Millbrook area. Each individual will have his or her own action plan, which will be assessed and reviewed regularly. This will help to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate level of support, work experience and training. The introduction of the Scratch work experience programme comes after the work of The Dorcas Project (since 1993) and Basics Bank (since May 1996), who operated similar work experience opportunities all over Southampton.

The Southampton City Council Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 found that Redbridge - one area within the outer Shirley regeneration boundary - fell within the worst ten per cent of wards in Britain for multiple deprivation.

Iana Ames, of the Outer Shirley Regeneration Team based in Irving Road, Maybush said: "Scratch will be a very worthwhile project indeed. It is important to stress that although the money is in place, there are still some technical details to be finalised over the coming weeks."