MORE than 150 unemployed young people have been given a foot on the jobs ladder thanks to help from a support scheme.

UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE), the Tata Steel business subsidiary, says it has provided £25,000 funding to youngsters taking part in 11 Prince’s Trust team programmes run by Stockton Riverside College.

They revealed funding has been used to pay for materials and equipment needed for community projects chosen by each team, who decorate and refurbish buildings and carry out gardening tasks.

Schemes have included a lunch club for the homeless, a Barnardo’s project supporting victims of abuse and young carers, a community gym and a theatre company for adults with learning difficulties.

The youngsters, from Teesside, were put through Dragons Den-style presentations, akin to the BBC show, to win their funding.

Gillian Hutchinson, the college’s head of department, said: “We are so grateful for the great relationship we now have with UKSE as the organisation is very generous with both its time and money.

“It began when Simon Hamilton, now managing director of UKSE, was based in this region, and our 12-week Prince’s Trust programme was mentioned in passing during a conversation.

“He was full of enthusiasm about supporting us right from the start and the current team has continued to make a fantastic contribution.

“The idea the young people should give a presentation to a business panel to bid for the funding has been such a learning experience for them.

“In fact, we have now rolled the idea out to use with other businesses and organisations as well.”

Figures show three out of four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training thanks to such programmes.

Peter Taylor, UKSE area manager, added: “It’s so gratifying to know we have not only helped improve the job prospects of about 150 young people but also that, together with them, we have made a contribution to projects doing wonderful work with some of the more disadvantaged people living in our steel areas.

“It is the fact that these young people have been so impressive in their presentations that has led us to support this number of teams and reach a funding total of £25,000.”