The Key Skills project started as a self rehabilitation scheme linking the need for housing with formal and informal training and empty homes in Middlesbrough and Stockton in 1991 and was inspired by Community Campus '87 experiences in buying it's first property for renovation back in 1989. The time delays and the quality of workmanship by the local contracted builder and a comment from a young homeless person who said "we could a better job ourselves".

This simple but effective model has lead to:

• The continued development of empty homes, which in turn provide supported and affordable housing for young homeless people
• The development of Community Campus Trading Ltd
• The provision of training and learning placements
• The development of the "Opening Doors" project working with partners Hartlepool New Deal for Communities, to create sustainable employment opportunities

The Key Skills project offers:

• Training Placements via recognised training agencies across the Tees Valley Employment
• Opportunities within the organisation and with Tees Valley based Intermediate Labour Market Initiatives
• Volunteering opportunities-internal/external to organisation
• Pupil work experience scheme for local schools
• Community based construction

• Key Skills
  • Key Skills Project
  • Training
  • Hartlepool Into Work