The scheme will see at least 20 youngsters taking up week-long placements working alongside professionals to redecorate 12 village halls and public centres in the coming months.

The work is thanks to a collaboration between Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP) and community investment company Trades4Care.

The venues will benefit by paying only a quarter of the refurbishment cost, while those unsure of their career path get a taste of working in the decorating trade.

Venues to get a makeover include village halls in Gainford, Barningham, Butterknowle, Bowes, Cotherstone and Romaldkirk, along with Evenwood’s Randolph Centre, Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services’ offices in Middleton, Staindrop’s Scarth Memorial Hall, Cockfield’s YMCA Community Café, TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle, and Evenwood Parish Hall.

TAP has invested £15,759 in the scheme, while the dale’s six-county councillors have contributed a combined £3,000 from their neighbourhood funds, matched by £3,000 from Trades4Care, which was established in 2019 and has offered placements to dozens of trainees.

Annalisa Ward, from TAP, said: “Their mission is to get young people interested in the prospect of working in trades, give them experience working in a professional team on placement, help them gain technical, social, and employability skills, build their confidence, and connect them to community groups and services.”

Young people who sign up to the scheme will work with tradesman Charlie Wright and junior supervisor Cameron Southworth. Southworth started out on a placement with Trades4Care and completed her apprenticeship this year.

Trades4Care director Deborah Jenkins said: “We always said we dream that when the time comes for us to step down, we will hand over to some of the young people who started with us on placements, and Cameron has made that real.”

Butterknowle Village Hall will be the first centre to undergo renovation when work starts on November 25.

Those interested in a placement can ring Mr Wright on 07905 027074.