TRAINING organisations and employers who help young people not in education, employment or training to progress their education and careers have come together for an awards ceremony.

Skills Training UK are the lead partner in the programme of support.

At the start of this year it partnered with 11 organisations in East Sussex .

During the past 12 months more than 900 unemployed young people have received individually-tailored support.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership designed the programme, to specifically help 15-24 year-olds.

Each young person is mentored by one of the training and education partners to understand their individual circumstances, interests and ambitions and help overcome any particular challenges they may face including mental health or housing issues.

They are coached in employability skills and work towards new qualifications, including in English and Maths, as well as being given advice on careers, further education, traineeships, apprenticeships and opportunities in the voluntary sector.

Learner of the Year was Devon Kendall who has autism and had suffered bereavement issues after losing his mother.

Training partner Wealden Works developed an action plan with Devon and arranged voluntary work with a local company which inspired him to do further learning at college in maths, English and Art to gain some qualifications.

He has now started college and part time work.

Jacob Corke from Eastbourne won the Attitude to Learning award for his determination to succeed after progressing from being out of work to being in full time employment.

Employer Partner of the Year was Stevens Rowsell, an engineering company based in St Leonards-on-Sea which has offered several opportunities to young people in recent months, including new apprentice Ben Williams, aged 18, from Hastings.

Ben was previously unemployed and has now started work as an estimator after coaching and careers advice from training provider Best Practice People.

Graham Clarke, director of education and social mobility, Skills Training UK, said: “Skills Training UK would like to congratulate the young people who have worked so hard to achieve so many positive outcomes during 2017 and we’d also like to thank all the local education and training providers in East Sussex who have worked in partnership with us.

“The success is down to your hard work.”

Councillor Md. Harun Miah, deputy mayor, Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “It was wonderful to see the achievements of the young people.”

The 11 partners are APM, Best Practice People, Crossland and Dudson Training, DV8, In2Skills, Medway Youth Trust, Plumpton College, Swim UK, Tempus Training, Wealden Works and Sussex Coast College.

For further information see www.skillstraininguk.com