A ROW has erupted over the imminent closure of a training service geared toward vulnerable young people in Derwentside.

Parents, community leaders and young people who have benefited from the scheme have demanded that the Learning Skills Council reviews a decision which will lead to the end of Derwentside Training, in Consett.

The service, based at Derwentside Civic Centre, caters for up to 25 people at a time and offers training in life skills, as well as NVQ and City and Guilds courses.

Derwentside District Council leader Alex Watson said: "Derwentside Training deals with youngsters with complex problems on a one-to-one basis.

"We are one of five providers in the county and the only one in Derwentside - and have proved ourselves by holding beacon status and being held up as one of the best services of its kind in the country. The skills council is introducing an Entry to Employment (E2E) scheme which covers a broader range and the district council has not been given the contract."

Instead, from July 31, E2E will be provided through Derwentside College, among others.

Coun Watson said it was felt a college environment would not meet the special needs of vulnerable people.

He added: "I am extremely disappointed that we are not being given the contract for E2E.

"We will be meeting to look at our options in order to retain Derwentside Training."

Kathryn English, 17, who dropped out of school due to stress and ill health, said: "I never knew where I was going to go or where I would get a job. Then Connexions recommended Derwentside training, I resat my Maths GCSE and have since become a Connexions ambassador and am going on placement at Aykley Heads.

"It gave me the confidence to go ahead. I would never have been able to do it in a college environment."

Skills council spokesman Karen Leah said: "It is our aim to raise standards in post-16 learning and to offer a wide breadth of provision.

"We are meeting Connexions next week to ensure a seamless transfer to other providers in the area.

"The three other quality providers in Derwentside have a wealth of experience and will offer an excellent service to this particular client group through the introduction of the new E2E programme."