A STUDENT is gaining workplace experience at a major employer as Foundation for Jobs teams up with businesses to increase opportunities for young people with learning disabilities.

Darlington College student Amy Teasdale is taking part in work experience sessions at The Student Loans Company.

The 21-year-old is spending one day a week at the firm’s Darlington centre working alongside staff on their daily tasks.

The opportunity was developed by the Student Loans Company working in partnership with Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College.

It forms part of a new programme between Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College to provide young people with learning disabilities workplace experience that increases their skills, builds their confidence and demonstrates their capability to perform well in a genuine business environment.

The Student Loans Company has been a key supporter of Foundation for Jobs since the project to tackle youth unemployment was launched two years ago.

The firm, which employs hundreds of staff at Lingfield Point, has taken part in a number of activities delivered by the national award-winning partnership between The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership.

Miss Teasdale said: “I am enjoying it and I am doing a wide range of different tasks.

"It is a nice building and the staff are lovely.”

Business administrator Emma Price, who is acting as Miss Teasdale’s mentor during her time with the company said: “Amy has fitted in brilliantly and picked up the processes really quickly, she is lovely to work alongside.”

Operations manager Emma Taylor added: “We support what Foundation for Jobs does and its overall goals so to be able to give Amy an insight into the work we do and what to expect in the workplace is brilliant.”

Foundation for Jobs, which has worked with about 3,000 young people since its launch, is keen to recruit more firms and organisations to take part in the work experience scheme and is already in discussions with further organisations.

Under the scheme the young person is assigned to a one-day a week work placement over a two month period with a local firm.

At the end of the work experience placement they receive a reference from the employer.

Any firms which would be interested in finding out more about the scheme should contact owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk