• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

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Grant helps young people get skills for work

Skills4Work Gateshead has been providing more opportunities to local young adults thanks to a grant from The Gateshead Housing Company’s Community Fund.

The £4,160 grant has enabled the charity to run a fortnightly Community Café at Fusion Studios in Birtley to get young people learning new skills and gaining confidence in the world of work.

Skills4Work supports young adults aged 18-30 with a variety of disabilities and/or mental health conditions to make the difficult transition from education to the workplace.

The Community Café involves all aspects of running a café, including preparing food. It also provides free craft sessions, entertainment, and manicures.

The aim of the café sessions is to provide positive wellbeing activities in a safe, respectful and welcoming environment.

The organisation has also taken the Community Café idea on the road to The Gateshead Housing Company’s sheltered schemes in Birtley, reducing social isolation by providing refreshments, entertainment and conversation to 110 older residents.

Tracey Wallace, from Skills4Work Gateshead, said: “The Community Café is a great way for young people at Skills4Work to learn new skills and gain workplace experience.

“The intergenerational aspect of the project is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of both generations.”

Jon Goodwin, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Community Foundation, said: “We were pleased to make this grant. The Community Café is making a positive difference to older residents in Gateshead as well as young people with difficulties.”

Since 2006, the fund has awarded cash and in-kind grants totalling over £700,000 to more than 120 groups across Gateshead.

To find out more contact Jon Goodwin on 0191 222 0945 or email jg@communityfoundation.org.uk

To find out more about Skills4Work Gateshead visit www.skills4work.org

By admin