A new initiative is being launched to help young people in Northumberland improve their job prospects.

CONNECT: Future Ready is a project commissioned by the North East Combined Authority and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The scheme aims to support young people aged between 16 and 30 years old who are either not in work or socially isolated.

It is being run by Mortal Fools, a theatre, drama, and creative learning charity, and is set to initially run until March 2025.

The new scheme is being run by Mortal Fools (Image: Von Fox Promotions) The project is a response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the mental health crisis on young people.

Kiz Crosbie, Mortal Fools CEO and artistic director, said: "As an organisation specialising in work with young people, we are delighted to be working with the North East Combined Authority to explore new approaches to employability skills development with the young people in our region.

"More traditional approaches to employability often don't meet the contemporary needs of young people, especially those with intersectional needs or facing multiple barriers to successfully joining the workforce.

"This investment, to explore new approaches to this work, feeding into the future economic prosperity of our region, together with supporting the development of individual young people is urgently needed and we are proud to be a part of it."

The project aims to address the region's workforce skills gap, with 59 per cent of job vacancies in the North East identified as 'hard to fill'.

It will also provide support for young people not in education, employment or training, many of whom face mental health challenges as a barrier to employability.

Unlike traditional employability initiatives, CONNECT: Future Ready will focus on a person-centric, needs-based approach.

It will use creativity as a tool to boost confidence and skills.

The first CONNECT: Future Ready programme is set to launch in early October.

Vicki Clarke, employment partnership coordinator at Northumberland County Council, said: "We recognise the barriers that young people can face into employment – it’s a challenging time to be a young person.

"These innovative employability programmes from Mortal Fools will inspire creativity, build confidence, and foster wellbeing to empower individuals to take steps towards employment and their future career goals.

"We are proud to support them."