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New Directions
Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
New Directions was a youth employment and skills programme supporting young people aged 15 to 29 across the Tees Valley who were not in employment, education or training (NEET).
Where?
Tees Valley, with Actes Trust responsible for supporting young people across Middlesbrough and Stockon-on-Tees
Age Range:
15 - 29 years
Funded By:
The European Social Fund (ESF)
About The Project
Delivered between 2016 and 2023, New Directions was a Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) programme led by New College Durham and delivered in partnership with Actes Trust, Thirteen Group, Beyond Housing and North Star (phase one only).
The programme was funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), with match funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), and was administered in England by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
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New Directions supported young people aged 15 to 29 who were not in employment, education or training (NEET), providing tailored one-to-one support to help them overcome barriers to progression.
​Support was designed around individual needs and included careers advice, employability skills development, mentoring and confidence-building activities. Through this personalised approach, New Directions helped young people move into employment, education, apprenticeships and training opportunities.
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How We Helped
Careers guidance​​
One-to-one support to explore options and plan for the future.
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Employability skills
Support to develop CVs, job search skills and interview techniques.​
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Employment, education & training support
Guidance to access college courses, apprenticeships, training programmes and job opportunities.
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Personalised action planning
Tailored support to identify strengths, overcome barriers and achieve individual goals.
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Flexible Fund support
Funding for essential items needed to secure or start work such as interview clothes, work-wear, ID or travel to work.​​​​
Project Partners and Funders
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Actes Trust Impact
1,138 participants supported across Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees
At least one barrier removed for 975 participants
666 participants progressed into employment, education or training...
...of which 275 participants progressed into employment
Insights From the Evaluation
Reaching Those Furthest From Employment
Engaging young people experiencing long-term unemployment was one of the standout achievements of our New Directions delivery. We supported 496 long-term unemployed participants predominantly across Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees, with 279 progressing into employment, education or training, demonstrating how tailored one-to-one support can help those facing significant barriers take positive steps towards their future.
Supporting Communities Facing Deprivation
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Our delivery of New Directions achieved particularly strong outcomes in some of the most disadvantaged communities across the Tees Valley. Of the 478 participants living in wards ranked among the 100 most deprived in England, 292 progressed into employment, education or training, highlighting the power of personalised support to create positive change in communities experiencing deprivation.
Creating Lasting Benefits for Young People and Communities
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Using a recognised ROI methodology, the programme evaluation estimated that our delivery of New Directions generated £7.05 in social value for every £1 invested. This reflects the wider economic and social benefits created through supporting young people into employment, including improved financial independence, increased earnings and reduced demand on public services. Full details of the methodology are available in the evaluation report.
The Actes Trust New Directions YEI evaluation can be downloaded here