JONNY Wilson, who received terrible brain injuries in a road traffic accident, is now finding a new lease of life with the help of a County Durham TEC Modern Apprenticeship in information technology.

In August 1997 Jonny, 21, a successful A-level student from Easington Village, was due to study for an Electronic Engineering degree at Hallam University in Sheffield, when the car he was driving skidded out of control and into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The accident put him in a coma for two-and-a-half weeks and left him with a brain injury, which still affects him to this day.

Jonny's attempt to start his degree course in September 1998 did not go to plan, so he returned home in the following January.

He found support from Rehab UK at the Tyne and Wear Brain Injury Vocational Centre which specialises in providing assessment, training and development programmes for people with an acquired brain injury.

He was set on a course of modules, containing IT training, help with social skills and strategies for dealing with short-term memory loss, and during module II, Kevin Walsh, Jonny's placement officer, contacted the TEC about Modern Apprenticeships.

He explained: "Jonny was one of our first clients. He came to us in need of vocational guidance, help and direction. His aptitude throughout the Vocational Training Modules had been very good and it was obvious that he was a very bright lad and could do much more. I contacted the TEC for further help.

"They were excellent. They told me all about IT Modern Apprenticeships; and which training providers were nearest to Jonny. In the end we settled for Northern Training, based in Peterlee, which has helped Jonny and is taking him on as a work placement."

Jonny said: "The help I have received from both REHAB UK and from my work placement at Northern Training has built up my confidence and will provide the vital experience that I need. Before I went to REHAB UK, I did consider taking up a Modern Apprenticeship, but at that time I could not find an IT training provider.

"I still hope to go to university, but this time I would like to study IT and perhaps go on to become a web designer. After my accident, the Internet - through e-mail - became essential in keeping in touch with my friends who had left to go to university. It is still my biggest hobby and I look forward to turning IT into my career."

Anyone leaving school this summer and wanting further information on Modern Apprenticeships should contact County Durham TEC on (01325) 37270