A fund which finances training for unemployed people in Newton Aycliffe and Middridge to enable them to find work is celebrating further success.
Since its launch in November 2012, over 200 local residents have benefitted from training funded by the scheme with 56 of them going on to secure employment.
It’s the biggest project to date for Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP) and has seen cash spent on both an Employability Skills Fund which can respond to specific training needs and a Discretionary Fund which removes barriers that prevent people from accessing training.
Examples of specialist training include:
•    Fork lift truck training
•    Specialist Gas training
•    Tiling, plumbing and plastering
•    Hazardous off-shore training
•    HGV Training
The fund is managed on GAMP’s behalf by Bishop Auckland College. Success stories include Martyn Cutress who received support towards completing his Level 2 Horticulture course with S&D Training. The support he received and through his hard work resulted in Martyn being awarded “2013 Apprentice of the Year “at a recent Awards event hosted by S&D Training.
The project has recently received further funding to continue to meet the needs of local job seekers. Funding has come from GAMP Area Budget, Durham County Councillors Gray, Clare, Adam, Dixon, Hopper, Hillary and Iveson’s Neighbourhood Budget and additional funds from livin.
Brian Riley, GAMP Coordinator, said; “This project is unique to the GAMP area and brings together a wide range of partners to address barriers to employment.  We are encouraging unemployed people from Newton Aycliffe and Middridge who think they could obtain work through specific training to apply to the fund”.
Anyone who is unemployed and from Newton Aycliffe or Middridge, can contact Denise Hopps at Bishop Auckland College for further information via: denise.hopps@bacoll.ac.uk   or on (01388 443078)