A service helping young people into work and training is to close down next year. 

Staff at the Darlington Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) have been told its funding will not be continued, paving the way for the closure of the support service in March 2024.  

The YEI programme supports young people aged 16-29 who are not in education or employment to move into training and work, giving them a helping hand to secure more permanent work in the future.

The programme's workers support people by preparing CVs, completing job applications and interview skills and are based at the Darlington Youth Hub on Northgate. 

The Northern Echo: The YEI programme supports young people aged 16-29 who are not in education or employment to move into training and workThe YEI programme supports young people aged 16-29 who are not in education or employment to move into training and work (Image: The Northern Echo)

Originally a Tees Valley-wide initiative, it was funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department of Work and Pensions, and delivered by several partners across the region. That funding ended in July but was continued by Darlington Borough Council up until March 31. 

A council spokesman said: “The council funding was put in place to fill the gap between the ESF funding and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the replacement for ESF post-Brexit, and to prevent the loss of staff experience.

“In conjunction with the other Tees Valley local authorities, Darlington was successful in their bid for UKSPF funding provided through the Tees Valley Combined Authority. This funding is to support people of all ages who are economically inactive into employment.”

A new programme is expected to be set up to continue the support work that’s been ongoing since 2016.

The council added: “There are three priority areas; those looking after the family or home, those who are short term sick (under 12 months), and those who have retired early. It is hoped that this new programme will be up and running shortly and will run until 31 March 2025.”

Since it was set seven years ago, the Darlington YEI team has had around 900 people start with the programme, recording up to 800 positive outcomes of a job or full-time education and over 350 people who were still in work or education six months after leaving.

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Council Leader Stephen Harker praised the work carried out by staff in helping hundreds of people find work.

He added: “YEI has done a tremendous job over the years. We’ve been able to help people with advice about housing and benefits.

“It’s what local authorities do best, providing an all round package of support for people at times when they might be struggling. It's an agency that can help in a compassionate way and one that others sometimes can’t. It improves people’s lives way beyond just providing employment.”