TWENTY former SSI employees are hoping to forge new careers after gaining sports coaching qualifications.

A sum of £2,000 from UK Steel Enterprise’s (UKSE's) Community Support Fund, awarded to Teesside Athletic Football Club, provided funding for the course. Some have already found employment and one has established his own sports-based business.

The qualification is part of a three-year programme of general sessions being run by the club to help former SSI workers to get back into work.

The sessions run weekly at Redcar, Middlesbrough and Stockton with about 20 former workers attending each one until they find a job or move on.

The former workers help to plan the contents themselves and they have ranged from courses, help with writing CVs, job applications and interview skills to cookery lessons, football, work experience and healthy living.

Six have already found jobs ranging from production and engineering to sports-based roles and three have started their own businesses.

The money from UKSE, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary, comes from its Community Support Fund, that aims to improve the quality of life for people living in its steel areas. It is the second time it has supported Teesside Athletic.

Kevin Fryett, from the club, said the funding was vital for them being able to hold the sessions.

"Many of the former workers say that all the sessions are giving them a focus and helping in lots of ways from improving their job chances to boosting their self confidence," he said.

"Some have taken Dementia Friendly Courses, not only boosting their CVs but also leading to them doing voluntary work in the community. A sporting memories event for older people that centred on the 1966 World Cup was a real success.

Sarah Thorpe of UKSE said: "Teesside Athletic FC does a great job working with local communities and making a real difference to people’s opportunities and lives.

"We were only too pleased to be able to help again, particularly as this project involves former steel employees who are doing everything they can to get their working lives back on track."