STAFF working for one of the region's NHS trusts will be given training in basic English and maths as part of a £500,000 programme.

The Tees and North-East Yorkshire NHS Trust has devised the innovative scheme to help deliver crucial skills- for-life training to its workforce.

It is part of the Get On North-East campaign, which aims to help the 400,000 adults in the region who have the reading or maths capabilities of an 11-year-old.

The trust is helping 1,500 staff members to gain the European Computer Driving Licence to help them be more computer-literate, and at the same time it is looking at its training requirements for basic literacy and maths.

It is estimated that the lack of basic skills costs the North-East economy about £600,000 a year.

The Get On North-East campaign aims to help these people, and improve the quality and quantity of training available in the region.

Anyone who would like to find out more about improving literacy and numeracy skills can find out what is available in their local area by calling the Get On campaign line on (0800) 100900.