Member Article

Hartlepool Council lands £19.29m to boost youth prospects in Tees Valley

Hartlepool Council has secured £19.29m of European Union funding to support youth employment in the Tees Valley.

Dubbed the Youth Employment Initiative, approximately 6,500 young people, aged 15 to 29, will be supported to move into education, employment, self-employment or training.

Hartlepool Council’s Economic Regeneration Team will manage the programme set to run from now until 31st July 2018.

Programme delivery

The Youth Employment Initiative is part-funded by the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England with the Department for Work and Pensions as the managing authority.

The programme will be delivered in two two strands:

Tees Valley Pathways (£17.6m) will create innovative solutions to help young people who are struggling to achieve their potential or make positive progress.

It will also help young people by providing them with the skills that employers require as well as offering participants the support of a flexible learning and skills fund.

Tees Valley Routeways (£1.69m) will provide young people with individually tailored routes into growth employment sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital, logistics, low carbon and health and social care through a range of activities such as volunteering, internships, traineeships and apprenticeships.

The Youth Employment Initiative is part-funded by the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England with the Department for Work and Pensions as the managing authority.

Councillor Kevin Cranney, Chair of Hartlepool Council’s Regeneration Services Committee, said: “This is tremendous news for Hartlepool and the whole of the Tees Valley and it is a major achievement to land such a significant sum of money in the current economic climate.

“Everyone involved in this project is passionate about giving our young people the best possible start in their adult lives and this funding will help us to give our youngsters the skills, experience, encouragement and confidence to build successful careers.”

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