THREE County Durham schools are taking part in a pilot scheme to prepare young people for work.

The schools, and nine others from throughout the country, will work with the national charity Changemakers to develop the enterprise capability of young people.

Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College, Staindrop Comprehensive and Deerness Valley Comprehensive, in Ushaw Moor, have won funding from the Department for Education and Skills to develop and test the new approach over the next two years.

From 2005, secondary schools will have to offer five days of enterprise learning to every pupil, and the pilot is seen as an important step.

The new approach enables each young person to design and manage a project to improve their community.

They can review the skills they gain with an employer, or someone from an area of work in which they are interested.

Malcolm Groves, deputy chief executive of Changemakers, said: "Much Changemakers' work has been pioneered in the area in the past and we are very pleased that the link is now strengthened further through this significant national initiative."

Ann Nelson, associate inspector for citizenship with Durham Local Education Authority, said: "We would be very interested to hear from any employers or self-employed people who would be interested in contributing help to young people taking part in this project."