Six months into its implementation, a project led by Newcastle College has already supported over 400 individuals in overcoming significant barriers to employment, including mental health challenges, substance misuse, and homelessness.

Funded by a share of £7.2 million awarded in April 2024 by the UK Government and the North East Combined Authority (North East CA), the initiative is set to engage more than 900 residents, offering vital support to those most in need across the region.

The North East CA was formed on 7 May 2024. It is led by Elected Mayor Kim McGuinness and the Cabinet and covers the seven local authority areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

As the lead partner in the Open Doors: Beyond Barriers project, Newcastle College, in collaboration with key organisations such as Newcastle United Foundation, Winnovation, Education Partnerships North East, the Prince’s Trust, Children North East, Groundwork North East and Cumbria and The Key, is dedicated to supporting individuals across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.

The project provides essential support to individuals facing significant barriers to employment. Participants have had access to a range of services to improve their social connections, develop IT, maths, and English skills, and create industry-relevant CVs, depending on the needs of the individuals.

One of those who has received support from the programme is Andres Pascasio, a refugee from El Salvador. Before relocating to the UK, Andres successfully worked as a software development manager with the National Bank of El Salvador. However, after arriving in the UK and struggling in the job seeker system since 2020, Andres faced the daunting prospect of changing careers after 30 years in his field.

Andres said: “With English being my second language, I found it tough to apply for jobs and handle interviews. My confidence in communicating at work was really low. That’s when the Open Doors: Beyond Barriers project helped me. With a referral from Newcastle Central Jobcentre Plus to Newcastle College, I got personalised support with things like writing a CV for my industry, searching for jobs, and improving my interview skills. They even gave me a translation document that converted IT equipment names and common phrases from English to Spanish, which made a huge difference."

Following this support, Andres was accepted into the AWS Software Development Skills Bootcamp, which guarantees an interview upon completion.

Stephen Sanderson, a lifelong joiner from County Durham, also engaged with the programme after his van and tools were stolen. Forced to relocate to Newcastle to support his daughter, Stephen was unsure how to begin his job search, having not updated his CV in over 20 years. A family friend referred him to Open Doors: Beyond Barriers project, where he had a one-on-one session with the team to assess his situation. Together, they created a new CV and explored the current job market. As a result, Stephen was enrolled in a course to get him a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card with the Back to Work Group, which concluded in a job interview at the end of the course.

Stephen said: “After losing everything, I didn’t know how to start again. The team helped me write a new CV and get my CSCS card. Now, I’ve had a job interview , and I finally feel like I’m on the right track again.”

Nathan Adams, Adult Skills Lecturer at Open Doors Beyond Barriers/Newcastle College said: "Our goal is to provide personalised support that meets individual’s needs and helps them overcome their unique challenges. Seeing people like Andres and Stephen regain their confidence and take steps toward their career goals is exactly why we do this work. The Open Doors: Beyond Barriers project is about more than just employment—it's about changing lives"

"Providing hope and a pathway forward for people facing structural barriers brings me joy every day. It's been incredible to share lived experiences, discuss challenges, and show participants in the toughest situations that with the right support, commitment, and self-confidence, anything is achievable. Most importantly, it's been powerful to show them they’re not alone in this journey."

Jo Phillips, Director of Lifelong Learning at Newcastle College said: “As the North East’s anchor education institution our primary purpose is to support people in our region towards a successful future. There are many reasons why people are out of work or may need this support and its fantastic to see the impact of this project already.”

As the project continues, the Open Doors: Beyond Barriers initiative remains dedicated to transforming lives across the region by addressing personal and systemic barriers to employment, ensuring that each participant has the support they need to achieve their full potential.

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

If you think you know of anyone who could benefit from this programme, email chris.byrne@ncl-coll.ac.uk