Young people from The Prince's Trust are celebrating after successfully completing their training course with a community care provider.

As part of the trust's 'Get into Healthcare' initiative, 13 trainees from Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth took part in a six-week programme with East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH).

At the end of the course they obtained a care certificate, which can be used to help them find work in the healthcare sector. All NHS health and social care support workers require a certificate to prove they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide safe, compassionate care.

ECCH has been working with The Prince's Trust and James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to offer the programme, which included sessions covering mock interviews, behavioural change and mindfulness.

This is the second group of unemployed 16 to 25-year-olds from the trust who have been trained by ECCH; many of last year's 12 trainees have gone on to find employment.

Nicole Hobson, ECCH course coordinator, said: 'We had such a great response from the trainees who joined us last year, so we were very keen to run another programme.

'We developed it to allow the trainees to experience a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles within ECCH and the James Paget, to raise their awareness of the diversity of roles, and to raise their aspirations for working in the healthcare sector.

'Just like last year, they've been so enthusiastic and they really want to get a foot in the door so this has been very exciting for them.'

Trainees also took up clinical placements with ECCH teams including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and community nursing, while non-clinical placements were provided by the Paget's foundation trust.

This year's students will now be able to apply for apprenticeships and temporary positions at ECCH.

Tim Gardiner, The Prince's Trust's 'Get Into' programme executive, added: 'We're really proud to work alongside ECCH in local communities to better support young people to gain the skills and confidence they need to bridge that gap into work.

'This kind of support is vital if we are to provide real opportunities for disadvantaged young people to take positive steps in their lives.'