AN employment initiative in one of the region's most deprived areas has helped 100 people find work, making it one of the most successful projects of its kind.

Working Neighbourhoods, known as the WiN project, is operated in Thorntree and Brambles Farm, in Middlesbrough, by Pertemps Employment Alliance, which delivers a range of Government-funded welfare-to-work initiatives across the UK.

With 61 per cent of people out of work, the Thorntree area is one of the most deprived in the UK.

Thanks to £2m funding, spread over two years, Pertemps has turned a church hall into a £350,000 resource centre.

The alliance operates two of 12 WiN projects in the UK.

Advisors provide solutions to issues including childcare, low confidence, debt management and job searches.

Centre manager Len Junier said: "We always knew it would work because we are taking this service to the people rather than waiting for them to come to us."