A new skills training project to promote workforce diversity is offering 12 placements to young people at heritage organisations.

Strengthening our Common Life (SOCL) aims to boost the number of 18- to 25-year-olds from minority faith and ethnic backgrounds working in the heritage sector.

Participants receive a bursary of £13,500 a year for traineeships lasting between nine and 18 months, after which they are awarded a diploma in cultural heritage.

The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by arts and heritage charity Cultural Cooperation.

Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives and the Horniman Museum in London are among the organisations offering placements.