Durham County Council’s cabinet has approved the allocation of an extra £500,000 to help over 25-year-olds from across the county improve their job prospects.
The funding will come from the Welfare Assistance Scheme and will be transferred to the council’s Employment and Employability Initiatives scheme.
The funding will help reduce poverty and the impact of welfare reforms by providing support for affected families and people.
The initiative includes providing access to training and work-based learning, financial support and wage subsidies for employers.
Up to 11 May this year, the scheme has been successful in providing skills training to 267 individuals, assisting 308 individuals into employment and supporting 59 people into self- employment.
Councillor Alan Napier, deputy leader and cabinet portfolio holder for finance, said: “This funding will be used to develop the scheme further to improve consistency and simplify the referral process to ensure that regardless of age, location or benefit type, all residents can gain access to an appropriate level of support.
“We are particularly looking to improve the prospects of those aged 25 years and above, living in our county’s most deprived settlements to help them into sustained employment.”