MP Praises Aycliffe Disc’s Work with Young Unemployed

Kate Thompson

Workers at a local charity running a Big Lottery project to get young people into work and training, have been praised by their local MP after achieving a 91% success rate.
Northern Communities charity DISC run the Talent Match programme in County Durham for local young people aged between 18 and 24 who are long term unemployed.
Out of 120 young people they have worked with since the DISC project launched in June 2014, 64 have received more education and training and 45 have found a job.
Sedgefield Phil Wilson MP said: “This is excellent news. DISC has done so much to reach young people and help them achieve employment and training. Ninety one per cent is an amazingly high figure. Congratulations to everyone involved.
And he added: “DISC is a credit to the community.”
DISC’s Youth Coach, Kate Thompson, said: “Even those who have not yet managed to get into employment, training or education with us have gained new skills and moved closer to the labour market”.
The programme works with individuals to provide tailored support, enabling increased confidence by involving the individual in work experience, up skilling and volunteering.
The young people may face barriers such as lack of qualifications, lack of confidence, homelessness and drug and alcohol use. They may attend at DISC’s offices on Horndale Avenue, Newton Aycliffe but youth coaches also meet young people in local community centres, cafes and libraries.
Kate said: “Once successful in moving someone forward, we don’t just abandon them – DISC’s Talent Match staff stay in frequent touch through one to one appointments, phone and social media to ensure continued support.