A SCHEME to teach basic skills to council workers is to be expanded.
Durham City Council joined forces with its unions to run courses on subjects including understanding a pay-slip, filling in forms, money management, letter writing and English.
The first 12 workers to complete their courses were presented with certificates by Mayor Ray Gibbon, on Tuesday.
The council hopes to expand the scheme with backing from the TUC's Learning For All Fund.
It plans to set up a computer-equipped learning centre at Deerness Leisure centre in Ushaw Moor.
The scheme will also be open to the families of council workers.
Elizabeth Killoran, the Northern TUC's Learning For All project worker, said: "The valuable support provided by Durham City Council has demonstrated that strong and effective partnerships between trade unions and employers can make a difference in the workplace.
"Hearing first hand some of the stories about the positive impact this learning initiative is having upon the morale and confidence of the workforce is truly inspirational.''
GMB branch secretary Jimmy Jamieson said: "We knew there was a problem but we were not prepared for the extent of the basic skills that needed addressing.''
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