Jan 13 2009 By Andrew MerninCHARITIES and voluntary organisations are being offered training to help them adapt to the challenges of the current economic climate.

Media Trust’s new training programme for 2009 aims to help charities develop personal skills and work practices to help them survive the credit crunch. Courses on offer include How to Hit The Headlines, Online PR and Winning Funding Applications.

Mark Easton, BBC home editor and Media Trust trainer, said: "As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth in the midst of a painful recession, it is timely to recall what the great scientist said about survival: ’It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.’ The motto for those considering learning new skills should be ’adapt or die’."

Arti Halai, ITV Central News presenter, who also works a s a Media Trust trainer, said: "My message is simple - this is the time to stay positive, become more creative in your thinking and ensure you are up to date with your training; because that is what will see you through the challenging times ahead."