A COLLEGE has received national recognition for the work it does to get young people back into education or employment.

Stockton Riverside College, which works closely with The Prince’s Trust, has been named winner of the youth charity’s North East Team Programme Delivery Partner Award.

The accolade comes as The Prince’s Trust marks the 25th anniversary of its Team programme, a personal development course for unemployed young people, aged 16 to 25, helping to build their confidence, motivation and skills.

Gillian Hutchinson, the college’s head of department Prince’s Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive this award and are so proud to have delivered the Team programme to so many young people. It is credit to the staff who have worked hard over the years to help young people achieve their full potential and to the amazing young people who have taken part.”

When Courtney Fielden signed up to the Prince’s Trust Team programme at Stockton Riverside College she had one key motivating factor behind her.

“I wanted to make a better future for my family,” said the 19-year-old mum-of-one from Stockton.

Having been in and out of work since leaving school, she said that she wanted to set a good example for her two-year-old son, Kalin.

Now, about to start a supporting teaching and learning qualification at the college, the teenager is just one of 187,000 unemployed young people nationally to have been helped back into education or employment through The Prince’s Trust Team programme.

The College delivers Team programmes in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Billingham, Darlington and Bishop Auckland. For details go to stockton.ac.uk or call 01642-865566.