Talent Match North East (TMNE) celebrated the successes of young people at an awards ceremony on Thursday 29 June 2017.
The event, held at The Discovery Museum, Newcastle, highlighted achievements in eight areas, including categories for youth coaches, employers, partners and, of course, young people.
Laurie welcomed almost 100 young people to the event, along with representatives of the Big Lottery Fund, Newcastle United Foundation, Groundwork, Gateshead College, Remploy and Barnados.
He said: “It’s a fantastic honour to host the Talent Match North East awards and to hear about so many amazing success stories from across the region.
“As the North East has one of the highest proportions of young people who are not in education, employment or training it makes me proud to see the impact that the Wise Group and its partners are having on youth unemployment.
Young people can benefit from the support of a youth coach who can help them access training, volunteering and work experience opportunities to help improve job prospects.
Laurie continued: “With the tailored one-to-one support that the programme offers we can help unlock the potential in young people, matching their talents to the needs of employers.”
North East employers Sage, Sitel and Durham University were also at the awards having been shortlisted.
TMNE will help 2,500 young people over the lifetime of the programme, with at least 500 supported to hold down a job for six months or more.
Roger Winhall, Head of Funding, Talent Match at Big Lottery Fund, said: “It is great to see National Lottery funding being used to support so many young people across the North East into employment. This event not only celebrates the young people’s incredible hard work and success, but also the impact and difference that Talent Match North East is making to the lives of young people.”
A full list of the 2017 winners and a video on the Talent Match programme can be found here: https://sway.com/YQxmAMbsXWN8mDB4
