AN area of high unemployment in Middlesbrough is reaping the rewards of an initiative to help people back into work.

The Government-funded scheme has proved a success with 45 formerly unemployed people gaining jobs in eight weeks.

Residents of Thorntree and Brambles Farm are taking advantage of the Working Neighbourhoods scheme, known as the WiN project.

With 61 per cent of people out of work, the ward is one of the most deprived in the UK.

But with £2m of funding, spread over two years, Pertemps Employment Alliance has regenerated the Corpus Christi church hall in College Road, into a £350,000 resource centre.

With the investment in the community and working to empower residents, the WiN project is already engaging with more than 180 people in the area.

Centre manager, Len Junier, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the success we've had in such a short time.

"One of the reasons for this is that the team working on WiN doesn't see barriers and issues, we see problems which have not previously been challenged and, by tackling them at source, we can be a catalyst for change.

"We are above target already and have received scores of thank you cards and good wishes from people we've helped, which is an excellent indication that we are getting it right."

Pertemps Employment Alliance works with families as well as those looking for work.

Advisors can provide solutions to various issues including childcare, low confidence, debt management or how to go about finding a job.

The initiative benefits local employers as all services are free and one of the aims of the project is to help those who have been given work with ongoing support to help them sustain their jobs.

Mr Junier said: "We want employers and residents of Thorntree and Brambles Farm to know where we are and to use this fantastic service - after all, we are here for them.

"We don't just want to find people jobs, we want to empower people into finding out what it is they want out of life and to help them to achieve it."