A new fund which finances training for unemployed people in Newton Aycliffe and Middridge to enable them to find work is celebrating another success story.

Martin Dunn had been unemployed for six months before taking a three day PCV (passenger carrying vehicles) driving course and test. Within a week he had secured a job as a coach driver.

Martin, from Newton Aycliffe, is the latest to benefit from the Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership (GAMP) area Employability Skills Fund.

The project has been funded via the GAMP Area Budget, Durham County Councillors Gray, Gittins, Bowman, Dixon, Paylor, Moran and Iveson’s Neighbourhood Budget and partners including Bishop Auckland College, livin (formerly Sedgefield Borough Homes), South Durham Enterprise Agency and MEARS.

Martin, whose funding application had been supported by his advisor at Newton Aycliffe Job Centre and approved by the GAMP panel, said “The funding is a massive boost to people like me who are actively seeking employment.

“There are far too many people who would like to undertake training but are unable to due to the lack of funding and opportunities available to them. I had already saved up myself and paid for a forklift licence

in a bid to enhance my employment opportunities, but this was still to no avail.

“There is no way I could have saved the money yet again to put myself through another course. I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to Newton Aycliffe Job Centre and the GAMP panel for giving me this chance.”

Claire Todd, Learning & Skills Coordinator based at Bishop Auckland College’s Newgate Learning Centre, is appealing for more unemployed people who think they could obtain work through specific training to apply to the fund.

She said: “This is an encouraging example of how training can help people get back into work in what is still a difficult economic climate. We are delighted to hear of this success story, which is not in isolation, and the positive impact the fund has had.”

Anyone who is unemployed and would like information on the training fund can contact Claire at claire.todd@bacoll.ac.uk or on 01388 443078.