COUNTY Durham has won £17.6m of European funding for schemes to improve people's education and skills.
The money has come from the European Social Fund Objective Three programme, which supports employed and unemployed people by helping them to acquire skills.
Mark Lloyd, Durham County Council's economic development and planning director, said: "The European team has assisted a wide range of partners in the county to secure these grants. The new County Durham economic strategy identifies education and skills as a key driver for raising the county's economic performance. Objective Three has a clear role to play in achieving our targets.''
Grant recipients include councils, colleges, schools, Durham University, Business Link County Durham, the Learning and Skills Council and voluntary and community organisations.
Council projects have received £3.8m, including support packages for youngsters in danger of exclusion from school, vocational training and supported employment for disabled people, and training for people in disadvantaged communities.
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