A NEW project offering employability skills and emotional support for communities has been launched in Prudhoe.

The My Life, My Way project delivered by Stepping Up (North-East) will target residents and communities by delivering six-week employability and emotional support programmes to provide personal and professional development.

The project will involve tailored support and one-to-one coaching to help residents become “job ready”.

The initial launch of the project in Northumberland includes programmes in Prudhoe, Hadston and Widdrington Station, while mindfulness-based courses will also be delivered in Alnwick, Berwick, Hadston and Ponteland.

Landlord Karbon Homes has invested £12,000 into the project and will encourage residents living in these communities to engage in the programme.

The coaching will prepare residents for the workplace by developing their confidence.

It will include reviewing CVs, practising interviews, learning to balance work and home commitments and exploring other options such as self-employment.

My Life, My Way will also build on the learning and partnerships developed during the Confident Communities project, which was also delivered by Stepping Up (North-East) in partnership with Karbon Homes.

This included the successful delivery of mindfulness courses, confidence-based workshops including raising confidence, self-awareness, handling difficult situations, communications and engaging with young people.

Pauline Fraser, chairwoman of Stepping Up (North-East), said: “We know from previous work that helping people to understand themselves better means they are more motivated to make life choices that are right for them.

“There’s so much pressure on people to either get a job or find new work.

“Our aim is to help people find a space where they can work out what they want – what’s best for them, not someone else.

“We are very grateful to Karbon Homes allowing us to work with their residents and the communities in which they operate and we are really looking forward to supporting people to live their lives their own way.”