Stockton Riverside College has received national recognition for its work helping young people get back into education or employment.

The College, which works closely with The Prince’s Trust, has been named winner of the youth charity’s North East Team Programme Delivery Partner Award.

The accolade comes as The Prince’s Trust marks the 25th anniversary of its Team programme, a personal development course for unemployed young people, aged 16 to 25, helping to build their confidence, motivation and skills.

Gillian Hutchinson Stockton Riverside College’s Head of Department Prince’s Trust said: “We are delighted to receive this award and are so proud to have delivered the Team programme to so many young people. It is credit to the staff who have worked hard over the years to help young people achieve their full potential and to the amazing young people who have taken part.”

When Courtney Fielden signed up to the Prince’s Trust Team programme at Stockton Riverside College she had one key motivating factor behind her.

“I wanted to make a better future for my family,” said the 19-year-old mum-of-one from Stockton.

Having been in and out of work since leaving school, she said that she wanted to set a good example for her two-year-old son, Kalin.

Now, about to start a supporting teaching and learning qualification at the college, Courtney is just one of 187,000 unemployed young people nationally to have been helped back into education or employment through The Prince’s Trust Team programme.

Stockton Riverside College has been delivering the Team programme at locations across Teesside and the wider region for 19 years.

Anna Barker, National Programmes Executive at The Prince’s Trust said: “The purpose of the Delivery Partner Awards is to celebrate both the Team programme and our fantastic delivery partners from the past 25 years.

“We’re thrilled to be able to recognise the huge impact Stockton Riverside College has had on the lives of young people and their communities.”

Danny Walker, 19, of Stockton has just completed the 12 week course at the college. Having previously dropped out of university he said: “The Prince’s Trust course has really helped get me back on the right lines. I was apprehensive at first and didn’t know what to expect but it has really built my confidence and even shown that I can help and support other people.”