An employment scheme has transformed five young Aberdeenshire lives by helping participants into work or training.

The three-pronged PEACE Project was devised by Aberdeen Foyer and targeted Tenants First residents in Peterhead.

Tenants First is a member of social housing provider Sanctuary Group, who helped fund the programme.

Victoria Jones is among the five who benefited. The 20-year-old has since secured employment at a local supermarket.

Victoria said: “I enjoyed the project and it has definitely helped make me more confident.

“I now have a job and don’t know if that would have been possible without the PEACE Project’s help.”

Five participants aged between 16 and 21 were given training in key areas including problem solving and working with others.

They were then tasked with carrying out a community survey in locations where Tenants First has homes.

Having gathered information on topics including health and employment, participants then presented their findings to Aberdeenshire Council.

Anne Kain, of Aberdeen Foyer, said: “All five participants successfully secured employment or training, which was the project’s aim at the outset.

“The training increased their skills, knowledge and confidence, both motivating the participants and empowering them to look positively at their options.

“We also helped identify each individual’s strengths and weaknesses. This allowed all five to draw up action plans to help them achieve their goals.”

Aberdeenshire Council and the DWP Flexible Support Fund also provided funding to the PEACE Project.

Eleanor McEwan, Sanctuary’s community development manager for Scotland, said: “We were delighted to support this project and wish all five participants every success in the future.”

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