FORMER Journal reporter Alan Jones has joined Manchester City Council heading a project which will reward Commonwealth Games volunteers with a job.

Businesses, councils and other organisations are making sure the region continues to reap the benefits of the tremendous success of last year's Manchester Games.

And United Utilities, one of the Games' partners, has seconded employee Alan, to Manchester City Council in a new role to help harness the legacy of the Games and the company will be offering 50, 12-month work placements to those who took part in the Games' volunteering programme.

Alan, who grew up in Astley Green and now loves in Atherton, said: "It is an exciting challenge. One of the main aims of the project will be to sustain and grow levels of volunteering to the benefit of the north west and the rest of the region.

"It will be about nurturing all that energy and enthusiasm that the Games generated and using it to make an effective contribution to the continued regeneration and development of Manchester and beyond. We'll particularly look at improving the employability of key target groups."

During his year working with Manchester City Council Alan will be maintaining links with agencies, government bodies and companies and promoting the project. The volunteering database of those involved in the Games will be used to target those to take part.

There has been an initial pre-volunteer programme which is designed to promote and support the involvement of people from disadvantaged communities.