A COUNCIL has hit the Euro jackpot, bagging £17m to help young people find work.

Durham County Council has been handed £17.04m from the European Council’s Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), which could eventually help nearly 6,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training.

The DurhamWorks programme will run for two-and-a-half years, offering support and guidance to help young people develop their skills and gain placements, experience and jobs.

Councillor Ossie Johnson, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Securing £17m is fantastic news and means that we will be able to improve not only the immediate but the longer-term economic opportunities and career prospects of thousands of young people in the county.

“It will also mean that we will be able to introduce new and innovative ideas alongside more tried and tested ways of working to ensure we benefit those people who most need our help.”

As of last June, 19 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds in County Durham were not in employment, education or training.

For more information on DurhamWorks, email: durhamworks@durham.gov.uk