Help is pouring in for the hundreds of P&O workers suddenly sacked this month.

Groups such as Dover District Council, the Port of Dover and East Kent College are offering possible vacancies or practical help to get staff back in work.

Some are offering guaranteed interviews for the former seafarers.

Exactly 786 staff were suddenly dismissed on March 17 in a company restructuring, which is causing continued outrage.

Nearly 600 worked on the Dover-Calais route.

District council leader Cllr Trevor Bartlett said: “We’ve seen an outpouring of support from the community since the P&O Ferries announcement with everyone keen to do their bit to support the workers and their families at such a difficult time.

“The community in Dover always comes together in the face of adversity. The town has shown great resilience in the past and I’ve no doubt that working together we’ll bounce back again.”

The council itself has a dedicated page on its website to signpost anyone affected with the latest information on jobs, training, education, benefits advice, and other support.

It is also working with the Department for Work and Pensions to plan a recruitment and support event. Details of this will be announced soon.

The Port of Dover is offering job and training opportunities through its own vacancies or those of its contractors.

Doug Bannister, chief executive, said: “The port community in Dover is close-knit and we are home to the largest local employment site in the area.

"It is right that we look at what support we can give at this difficult time and that we work with our partners to reach out to those affected.”

The port authority is both signposting current vacancies for directly suitable candidates and offering others training to carry out certain roles.

Emma Williams, head of human resources, added: “If people don’t feel that they quite meet the job criteria, please still apply and we will talk with them about how we might be able to offer suitable training for them to succeed in a new role.”

The Port has also mobilised the support of its major contractors to link former P&O Ferries staff with other job opportunities in its wider supply chain. These include Securitas (security), Churchills (cleaning), DMA (building maintenance) and DCB (building contractor).

Former P&O staff should visit the web page doverport.co.uk/about/recruitment, email recruitment@doverport.co.uk or call 01304 240400 and speak to the HR Team.

A Government careers guidance group is offering free online sessions to help the former P&O staff find new work.

The National Careers Service sessions take place on Wednesday, April 6, and people can choose between two sessions, from 10am to noon and 130 to 3,30pm.

These will identify transferable skills, explore training and learning opportunities, identify potential new careers, and help in CV writing and interview skills.

Those interested can register via the web page cxk.org/events/po-ferries-redundancy-workshop/

The East Kent College Group is continuing drop-in sessions to give advice and information on potential next steps for the seafarers to find alternative work.

The next is at Dover Technical College in Maison Dieu Road, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Friday (April 1).

It also has employment posts from lecturing to catering, plus adult education courses, across its sites in Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Folkestone and Sheerness.

There is also an EKC IntoWork service, offering help in areas such as CV writing and job interview techniques.

A spokesman said: "Across EKC Group our whole community was shocked and saddened to hear of the restructures at P&O Ferries and want to ensure that staff who have now left have the fullest opportunity available to move seamlessly back into employment."

For full details visit the web page ekcgroup.ac.uk/group/collaborate-us/support-po-workers

Vacancies can be sought from groups including Dover Port Health Authority, Kent County Council, Kent Police and Viking Crew, a Dover-based recruitment service for the cruise, super yacht and specialist sector.

There may also be chances in the civil service for posts in organisations such as Border Force and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.

A web page listing organisations offering employment opportunities and other help can be found at dover.gov.uk/Community/P-and-O-Ferries/Support-for-those-affected-by-P-and-O-Ferries.aspx