UTASS aims to provide training locally and at the best possible price to participants. We work together with funders and partners to develop and promote opportunities to help people living and working across the dales, to access funding towards their training ambitions.

We are aware of the following opportunities which may be of interest:

Weardale Rural Training Project

Thanks to support from Weardale Action Partnership, funding is available via UTASS to help provide training for people living or working in Weardale.

Funding has already helped trainees access a variety of opportunities including Lantra Chainsaw, Emergency First Aid at Work, Food Safety in Catering, Tractor Driving, Quad Bike, Safe Use of Pesticides, and Telehandler training.

For further information, and to request an application for funding form, contact with Julia on 01833 641010 or email julia@utass.org

Teesdale Branch NFU

Teesdale Branch NFU members and their families can access 50% funding for training courses up to a maximum of £250.  They need to e-mail Alan Medd alanmedd@icloud.com with details of any course they are planning to attend and quoting their membership number. After the training has been completed you must provide Alan with bank details and a receipted invoice to receive the 50% reimbursement.

Please note: Trainees should have been an NFU member for a minimum of two years or are direct family members or employees of someone who has been a Barnard Castle branch NFU member for a minimum of two years.

Teesdale Area Action Partnership Upskilling and Employability Project provides funding for unemployed people to train to obtain skills which will help them improve their chance of getting back into employment and for people employed in low paid jobs to obtain new or additional skills, which will help them to either progress in their present job or find new or additional work. Please contact Catherine Hryniszak on 01388 443078 to discuss eligibility.

Here’s a link showing the positive impact the Project has had for people: https://bacoll.ac.uk/training-opportunities