A new campaign aims to match young people looking for training or apprenticeships to vacancies available.
The One Point Service Start Today campaign is aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training and will run until March. A booklet containing details of training and apprenticeship vacancies is available online at: www.help4teens.co.uk/start
The campaign, set to begin this month, is being supported by Durham County Council’s One Point personal advisors and the Improving Progression of Young People Team.  The personal advisors offer information, advice and guidance to young people who are unclear about their future career paths.
The council works with a number of colleges and training providers, New College Durham being one of them.
Mo Dixon, assistant principal for curriculum, inclusion and higher education at New College Durham, said: “Our college enjoys a very successful working relationship with the One Point service and we have worked together very well on a number of projects over the last couple of years.
“Together we have been particularly successful in engaging hard to reach groups and I see this as an excellent example of partnership working.”
New College Durham and One Point is now also offering young people the chance to join a bespoke choices programme. This will give young people currently not in employment, education or training, the opportunity to see a wide range of full time vocational or apprenticeship programmes.
Jack Haywood, 17, formerly of Gilesgate Sports College, said: “Initially I was very nervous at the prospect of leaving year 11 and missed my first couple of college interviews because of nerves.”
One Point personal advisor, Tom Lynn, supported Jack through interviews before he left school last summer as part of the Start Today campaign and once he had accompanied him to the college to discuss possible courses, everything fell into place.
Thanks to the support received, Jack has gone on to study childcare and now has a placement at a primary school with a long-term aim of becoming a learning support assistant.
There are a range of opportunities available throughout the county and young people are urged to visit the Help4teens website or seek help from a One Point personal advisor.
Last year 485 young people were helped thanks to this type of campaign and it is hoped this year the programme will be even more successful.