A NEW programme aimed at giving young people more skills to better equip them for work will be taken up in schools across East Durham.

The Young Enterprise programme will see more than 2,000 students and volunteers learning new skills that will hopefully help them to succeed in their chosen career path.

All schools which take part will become Centres of Excellence, a nationally-recognised status.

East Durham Rural Corridor AAP provided £7,000 for the project with the schools allocating £3,200 and Young Enterprise and Livin funding £9,500 each.

Joanne Smith, a teacher at Kelloe Primary School, said: “The course built well on work we had previously done. There was a good range of activities which challenged the children.”

Children were encouraged to design and build a city which included a restaurant with its own menu.

Sedgefield Community College also delivered Learn to Earn sessions.

Jane Bellis, AAP coordinator for East Durham Rural Corridor, said: “All of the children got very much involved and seemed to enjoy what they were learning.

“I was particularly pleased to see children who have difficulty engaging with mainstream activities taking part. In my view, a very worthy project.”

More schools are set to take part in the coming weeks.