Two Surrey councils have secured funding to help young people in the boroughs find new employment, training or an apprenticeship.

A total of £54,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions was paid to Elmbridge and Runnymede Borough Councils which they said would continue to support young people through the Elmbridge and Runnymede Youth Center .

The Youth Hub, established in 2021, will equip up to 120 young people with the skills, abilities and knowledge they need to find work, the councils said.

It helped young people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic who had difficulty finding or returning to work, or following training.

Over the past 10 months, Runnymede Borough Council said the Youth Hub had supported 125 young people with personalized advice and support.

This has enabled 44 young people to find a job, apprenticeship, work experience or internship, and a further 41 young people have now received additional training to improve their skills and strengthen their CV, the council said.

In a joint statement, the four co-leaders of Runnymede Borough Council said: “Even almost three years on from the worst effects of Covid, it is clear that the pandemic has had a significant impact on young people in many ways. respects, particularly regarding employment and their education.

“It is vital that help is available, which is why we are delighted to have secured government funding to invest in this important service.”