A SCHEME to increase opportunities for young people with learning disabilities to gain workplace experience is set to be further rolled out this autumn.

It follows the success of a pilot programme last year run by Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College, with the aim of providing the young people with workplace experience that increases their skills, builds their confidence and demonstrates their capability to perform well in a genuine business environment.

Under the pilot scheme, Darlington College student Amy Teasdale, then 21, took part in work experience sessions at The Student Loans Company.

Presentations to business audiences are now planned for September and a video, which can be sent out to firms is being developed with the aim of encouraging more businesses and organisations to follow the Student Loans Company’s lead.

Under the scheme, the young person is assigned to a one-day a week work placement over a two-month period with a local firm.

At the end of the work experience placement, they receive a reference from the employer.

A Foundation for Jobs spokesman said: “It is important all our young people in Darlington are given the opportunity to both develop their skills and show employers what they are capable of.

“Amy’s experience at the Student Loans Company was very positive both for herself and the organisation itself.

“The opportunity was developed by the Student Loans Company working in partnership with Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College and they were a fantastic organisation to work with on the pilot project.

“We are now looking to work with more businesses to create more opportunities for the young people set to benefit from this scheme.”

The national award-winning Foundation for Jobs was launched in 2012 and runs activities for young people from the ages of ten to 24 to give them the best chance of securing careers in the North-East’s key employment sectors.

Its major strands include working with firms to develop new apprenticeships, organising work experience and internship places to give young people skills that enhance their chance of securing work, and linking industry with schools to inspire young people to consider careers that offer them the best chance of rewarding futures.

Since the project was started by The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and The Darlington Partnership, it has worked with a round 5,000 young people in Darlington.

Any firms interested in finding out more about the work experience scheme or Foundation for Jobs itself should contact owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk