A SCHEME which has helped reduce youth unemployment in the town by 75 per cent has celebrated its third birthday.

The Hartlepool Youth Investment Project (HYIP) - which in the three years since it started has helped to reduce unemployment among the young from 17 per cent in 2012 to the current level of 4.3 per cent - celebrated its anniversary at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience.

Five special recognition awards were presented at the event.

Cheryl Baxter won Apprentice of the Year, Kayleigh Driver was named Volunteer of the Year, Rebecca Newton-Smith won the Employee of the Year award, Learner of the Year was Christopher Scott and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Jacob Clyburn.

The HYIP brought together all of Hartlepool Council's Youth Unemployment initiatives and those of partners, including schools, colleges, Jobcentre Plus, the National Apprenticeship Service, Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, work-based learning providers, Teesside University, the voluntary sector and employers.

It was set up to promote the schemes working more together to boost young people's job prospects, preparing them for the world of work.

The reduction of the youth unemployment rate by 75 per cent is the largest reduction within the same time period of any local authority in Great Britain.

Councillor Chris Simmons, Chair of the Council’s Children’s Services Committee, added: “We are facing unprecedented challenges in the Tees Valley area given that we have pretty much witnessed the destruction of our heavy industry in recent weeks. It is particularly important in such challenging times that we are doing everything we possibly can to support young people.”

Closing the event, Councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher, Vice-Chair of the Council’s Regeneration Services Committee, said: “We must continue as we started in 2012, move forward with optimism and make it clear that Hartlepool is not prepared to see its young people put on the scrapheap."

Jacob Clyburn, who won the young entrepreneur award, has developed a gaming organisation and branched out to develop his own sportswear. He also used his skills and contacts to honour the memory of his friend and fellow student Rhys Hewitt, who tragically died in a road traffic accident in October 2014, by designing T-shirts, and organising their sale to students to raise funds for the family.