Mayor backs new scheme for neurodivergent people

The North East Autism Society (NEAS), based on the Drum Industrial Estate, runs ProgressNE in partnership with Azure Charitable Enterprises.

The £500,000 project is funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as the lead authority.

Mr Driscoll said at the project’s launch: “The work you do is so important. You’re changing people’s lives. You’re saving people’s lives. In the North East we have 105,000 people who are unemployed or inactive but want a job. To bring that down we need to create more good jobs, and to put the right training and support in place so the people of the North East can get them.”

The mayor also praised the success of the previous project run by NEAS and Azure called DiversityNE, which supported 68 unemployed or economically inactive people to move into work and 59 to go into education or training.

ProgressNE will target individuals who are not in employment and not an active job-seeker. Participants will receive up to a year of one-to-one support tailored to their individual challenges, strengths, and aspirations.

The support can includes travel training, a benefits check to ensure someone is receiving their full entitlement, help to access community events and groups, social skills development, support to access other services such as GP appointments, and help with CVs, job applications, interview skills, and work placements.

ProgressNE runs until March 2025 and is taking on participants.

Get details.