UNEMPLOYED Teesdale residents are being given the chance to have free training close to home after The Village Halls Consortium was awarded more than £14,000 in funding.

The consortium was granted the funds through the European Social Fund who work with the County Durham Community Foundation and the Skills Funding Agency.

The consortium is looking to train up to 15 unemployed people aged 19 to 65.

Project organiser, Sarah Yarrow said: “Our main aim is to train unemployed people at a community building local to them because in the consortium we have 36 members around Teesdale.

“We are tailoring the programme to meet the candidates’ needs.”

Ms Yarrow said funding was available to cover travel costs as well as materials and that candidates would be offered three flexible sessions with up to nine hours in total.

Sessions will provide tailored support to help candidates get back into work with help being provided in a range of skills from writing a CV to IT skills and job applications.

Candidates will also be able to choose which village hall they have the session in as well as a day that suits them.

Ms Yarrow added: “I think it’s an excellent opportunity to give people a variety of skills that will support them in the present climate and especially in rural areas were members are so it’s great to be able to take it to them.”

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 13 but Ms Yarrow said organisers were flexible with the deadline as long as candidates could begin the course by June.

For more information call Ms Yarrow on 07889 401245 or email villagehallsconsort@hotmail.co.uk