A COLLEGE in north Durham has received a grant of £10,000 to help armed service veterans find work.

Finchale Training College, on the outskirts of Durham City, will use the money to provide training and support for former servicemen and women.

The college will also help early service leavers gain the skills required to move into paid employment outside of the armed forces.

The project is one of 66 in the region to be awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All scheme from a pot of almost £592,000.

David Etheridge, Finchale Training College principal, said: “We’re really grateful for this Big Lottery Funding which will enable us to support veterans on an individual basis to obtain the skills and qualifications they need, to gain the employment they want.

“By working with employers we plan to help participants secure jobs in a range of fields, from the security industry to working offshore on oil rigs.”

The Life Mapping Community Interest Company is getting £9,900 to run a community arts project in Easington.

The organisation hopes their initiative will help to increase understanding, reduce isolation and create more social opportunities for residents, particularly those who are vulnerable.

The project will involve the creation of a mosaic, which will be contributed to by all parts of the community and then permanently displayed in the local Welfare Hall.

Project co-ordinator Kelly Youngs said: “We’re over the moon to receive this grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

“We’ve recently run a similar project in Wheatley Hill and it was a great success.

"It really brought people together and got residents who were socially isolated and lonely for various reasons out and about and increased their confidence hugely.

“We hope to achieve the same kind of outcomes in Easington by involving all parts of the community in this art project that they can work towards together.”

The awards scheme distributes grants of up to £10,000 to projects that can make a positive difference to communities.

Dharmendra Kanani, Big Lottery Fund Director of England, said: “It’s great news that projects across the North-East, such as Finchale Training College’s employment programme for veterans will make a positive difference to people’s lives.

“Awards for All grants are helping to bring communities together through valuable social and environmental projects benefitting local communities and people most in need.”