Simonside Community Project, which opened in Wenlock Road back in July 1993, has celebrated another successful year of helping the unemployed find work or training.

In the last year the project has helped 426 people into work.

And in the 15 years since it was established, it has enabled 6,010 to climb on to the employment ladder.

Now diversification is the key word for the coming year, as Mark Musgrave, the project's community development worker, explained.

"We are looking to increase our community development in addition to our drop-in facility.

"We will be looking at additional partnerships and contracts, and also attempting to provide more training courses – this is the way forward in both our planning and our funding applications.

"All community and voluntary organisations are struggling for funding due to the lack of large funders. Our funding is ongoing and we are waiting to hear the outcome of a couple of funding applications."

The theme of its recent AGM covered the difficulties of funding for both the project and clients who needed training or certification.

The hard work of the staff, volunteers and placements was praised and appreciated as was the support of the directors and steering committee and the help of the various partners.

The community side of the project's work was highlighted with special mention made of the success of the women's group.

Key speaker Laura Williams, employment development officer with South Tyneside Council, spoke of the authority's input in local communities with special emphasis given to helping the unemployed find work.