HEALTH workers in north Durham will be advising students on how to look after themselves and get the most from further education.

Staff from Derwentside Primary Care Trust's (PCT) specialist health promotion service will be at Derwentside College's freshers' fair in Consett.

The aim is to encourage students to make the most of their time at college by joining in with student union events, clubs and activities.

It is also to raise awareness of young people's health issues and inform them where local services are if they need them.

Kim McGarry, health promotion specialist with People for Derwentside PCT, said: "Derwentside College is making great progress towards developing their healthy college status, hosting the multi-agency feel-good college steering group, which is working towards a health promotion strategy.

"Students are looking forward to more opportunities to get involved in sports and see an expansion of services in the college.

"The group looks forward to the inclusion of the three-year health promotion strategy within the college strategic development plan this year."

The freshers' fair is part of a wider initiative to promote health within Derwentside College which will see a health promotion strategy being implemented at the end of this month.

It will include plans for improving college food and availability of fruit and vegetables, targets to develop sports teams and social events as well as sexual health services.

The aim is to promote staff and student health and well-being across all sites and to work with service providers to support the college.

At the events, there will be information advice and support on sexual health, drugs, alcohol, smoking, healthy lifestyles, college services with a number of freebies available for students to take away with them.

Derwentside District Council will also be there to provide information for students regarding housing, travel, welfare rights, job seekers' allowance, tax credits and debt counselling from a mobile office in the college grounds.

To provide useful information and informative activities, there will be a number of organisations helping with the fair such as NECA (North East Council on Addictions), Connexions and the chlamydia screening team.

The fair is being held at Derwentside College, Consett New Campus, on September 14 and 15, from 10am to 2pm.