Careers organisation Inspira will reopen the doors its Cumbrian centres this month.

Forced to shut its physical offices during the Covid-19 lockdown, it switched to offering career and personal development support online.

Work has been ongoing to make sure its centres could open and adhere to Government guidelines, including screens being installed, PPE, sanitising hand gel and appropriate social distancing.

From Monday, June 15, its offices in Carlisle, Workington and Barrow will be open for appointments for people who struggle to access services online.

They will be able to receive careers advice, information, job vacancies and training.

Mark Bowman, chief executive of the charity, said: “Our entire staff team are home-based and available digitally to help young people who are affected by disrupted exams, and adults who are unemployed, furloughed and at risk of redundancy.

“Our decision to redesign the centre to be Covid-19 secure and open on a skeleton staff has been taken as it is clear some people need one-to-one support in order to help them prepare to be work-ready and enter or re-enter the workforce.”

The charity delivers a number of careers related contracts including the National Careers Service.

Inspira has worked with health and safety specialist Mike Tinnion to ensure the centres can accommodate social distancing, and that enhanced hygiene standards are implemented.

Mr Bowman added: “Ensuring the needs of staff and clients are met is quite challenging, but with detailed planning and adherence to Government guidelines, I believe we have achieved a Covid-19 secure environment which will protect staff and clients.

“We have PPE equipment for staff, masks and sanitising hand gel for clients and we have increased our cleaning capacity.

“There are over 12,500 working-aged people needing our help in Cumbria.

"The team are working hard on the phone, over Facebook messenger and Skype, and provided we feel the centres are Covid-19 secure, the one-to-one service will recommence on June 15.”

Inspira expects up to 10 clients will be able to be in the individual centres at any one time.

The centres will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.

Appointments can still be made digitally and clients are encouraged to call 0345 6588647 first to find out which communication method is best for them.