Member Article

Tees Valley NEETs net £2.2m pot of cash

Stockton Council has successfully led a bid on behalf of the five Tees Valley local authorities to secure nearly £2.2m for NEETs.

The cash, from the European Social Fund (ESF), will help more than 1,000 young people aged 14-19 years old who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The funding will support a range of schemes across the Tees Valley to help young people overcome a range of barriers or issues to help them successfully back into education, employment and training.

This will include support such as mentoring, work placements, assistance with literacy or numeracy issues, homelessness or drug misuse, personal and community development projects and work placements within local authorities.

The funding has been allocated to the five different local authorities, as follows:

• Stockton (355 young people) £755,014
• Darlington (249 young people) £529,573
• Hartlepool (79 young people) £168,017
• Middlesbrough (199 young people) £423,233
• Redcar (140 young people) £297,752

In Stockton, a range of tailored schemes will be provided through Stockton Council, local business, and voluntary and community groups to help young people enter employment, training or education.

Councillor Ann McCoy, cabinet member for children and young people at Stockton Council, said: “Many young people have so much a lot to contribute but sometimes need a support to help them overcome a range of personal issues or barriers which prevent them from performing to the best of their ability in a work or training situation.

“The funding will provide a range of schemes that will provide these young people with invaluable help and support to overcome their issues and barriers at a very important time in their lives – giving them the opportunity to secure for themselves meaningful training and employment and a successful future.”

ESF has been supporting schemes in Stockton since 2008, such as the ‘Get on In Life’ project which has been running in Stockton since 2008 and has already helped more than 750 young people successfully into training and employment.

Synergy VCS Consortium, a partnership of voluntary sector organisations who deliver a range of services on behalf of Stockton Council and other public bodies, has already seen the difference these schemes make to the lives of young people.

Jon Goodwin, at Synergy VCS Consortium, said: “Through these projects, young people often find new confidence and go on to achieve successful employment and education – it’s hugely rewarding”

The ESF schemes will run for two years from today (Wednesday September 4, 2013).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .