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New training hub launched in North Tyneside to equip people with workplace skills

A new training hub has been created in North Tyneside, providing courses in social care, catering and hospitality for people who are currently unemployed.

YMCA North Tyneside’s Employment and Skills Academy in North Shields is equipped with a café and kitchen where people can gain work experience, and a living space fitted with mobility aids, so people can learn about working in a social care environment.

Funding from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (North East LEP) Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme enabled the conversion of YMCA North Tyneside’s existing space into this new hub.

As Darren Mayne, YMCA North Tyneside’s Head of Enterprise and Commerce explains, four people have already gone on to secure jobs in the YMCA North Tyneside café and building, after completing training: “The creation of our new training hub means that we can now work in partnership with North Tyneside Council to offer training, free of charge, to people who are seeking work, and we’ve already offered jobs to four of our most recent trainees.”

The new training hub was officially launched this week and is now welcoming learners from North Tyneside and beyond.

Donna Brown, who now has a job in the YMCA North Tyneside gym, said: “Looking back, I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to do the course. If I hadn’t done it, I’d have been stuck in a rut and unemployed, doubting myself with no motivation to work. It happened just at the right time – I’d come out of a long-term relationship and wanted to better myself for me and my kids. I’m so glad I took the opportunity while it was there.”

Claire Johnson, who now works as a café assistant, said: “I am so glad I came on the course now as I was hesitant at first but I’ve loved every minute of it. I love working in the cafe, the staff are all lovely and make you welcome.”

The Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme also supported the refurbishment of the YMCA’s Young People’s Hub, which is now a welcoming space for people to drop in and access computers and AV equipment.

Carol Botten, North East LEP board member and CEO of VONNE (Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East), said: “Over the last year we’ve seen the hub develop and it’s wonderful to hear that people are already benefiting from it and going on to secure roles in catering and hospitality.

“As the region recovers from the impact of the pandemic, we know that spaces like this one will play a central role in creating stronger, more resilient communities in the North East.”

Dean Titterton, Chief Executive at YMCA North Tyneside, added: “Part of our role here in North Tyneside is giving people the opportunity to access training that will help them gain new skills and hopefully progress on to employment.

“We can now see this training in action, and look forward to supporting many more people to gain work in catering, hospitality and social care.”

Find out more at www.ymcanorthtyneside.org.

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Young trainees share their experiences of gaining conservation, woodland and land management skills

Young people who took part in six-month traineeships in Northumberland have shared their experiences of gaining skills in conservation, land management and woodland maintenance.

The trainees took part in Groundwork North East’s Green Futures programme, which was part-funded by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme, which aims to help communities across the North East recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Overall, more than 50 young people aged between 16 and 24 have taken part in training and volunteering, gaining skills that will set them up for future careers in the ‘green economy’. Five of the young people completed six-month paid Kickstart traineeships, working at two sites: Pegswood Moor Country Park and Pegswood Community Woods, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

Here, they share their experiences of the Kickstart placements:

What made you decide to apply for a Kickstart traineeship at Groundwork North East in Northumberland?

Ethan M: “I was unemployed after my A levels and I started volunteering at Groundwork NE as I am interested in conservation and wildlife. So I applied for the Kickstart job.”

Will: “I liked the idea of helping wildlife and being outdoors, I had worked in a primary school as a lunchtime assistant for two hours a day, this involved serving food, supervising the children and writing up first aid incidents. Before that I was at college doing art, design and animation and then I decided I wanted to get into more physical outdoor work.”

What has been your favourite aspect of the programme?

Dale: “For me, the opportunity to get qualifications in tree surgery and related land qualifications. I don’t think I could have got them otherwise as I have been trying for seven years. But between living, rent and food there wasn’t enough…I have really enjoyed being part of the Kickstart Team working alongside other young people at Groundwork in Northumberland. I’ve learned about conservation, protecting wildlife and also gained some really valuable qualifications including tree surgery.”

Ethan M: “I enjoy working with the team – I had only worked in a team in college so now I am more familiar being in a team in a workplace. Everything you do carries everyone in the team so it’s important that no-one is doing less than anyone else.”

What have you learned through the Green Futures Kickstart programme about sustainable practices which protect the environment?

Ethan M: “We learned about the biology of the trees in Pegswood Country Park which used to be an open cast mine. There has been a lot of storm damage, due to the poor, shallow soil, it is not enough for the roots to grow deeply. We planted thousands of wildflowers in the meadow plantation and we have also done crown lifting of trees to improve light and sightlines which helps deter anti-social behaviour. We have removed blackthorn – they are invasive as they will grow through paths so they need cleared.”

Will: “We have learned all about pruning and lopping techniques, how to saw and what to prune or not prune so that trees don’t get diseased. We have been doing crown lifting to allow more sunlight to come in and let the smaller trees grow better and to allow clearer pathways so everything is not packed together.”

What has it been like being part of a team of Kickstarters?

Ethan M: “This was my first time in a working environment, it’s been a great experience and especially useful for me to work in a team on a regular basis.”

Will: “It was good to get an idea of what it is like in a work environment and working with different people, I have not really experienced that. At Groundwork we have worked with people doing different jobs so this has included working in the country park and with local community groups who partner with Groundwork.”

Can you talk about the individual projects you have worked on and give some examples of the practical skills you have achieved?

Curzon: “I used oak to make a rustic bench as a feature in the park, it would have cost a fortune to buy it and we used wood that would otherwise have rotted. Working with the Ashington Woods Community Group, one of the Friends, Dennis, has an Alaskan style saw mill which we learned how to use…It took a lot of force to push it and I learned how to keep it straight and keep the chainsaw steady. These skills have been great to learn.”

Will and Ethan: “We are going to make more benches as when Groundwork have talked to local people, it is important for them to have spaces to have a rest. We are going to find out where they would like these in the park and then make and install these as part of our project. It will form an accessible route around the park.”

What has it been like working with Groundwork North East staff?

Will: “I’ve become much more familiar with daily tasks, knowing what to do with each task so I can be more independent when getting ready to work on jobs around the park. Doing things more independently is a good feeling and it makes me feel confident about my job.”

Have you enjoyed getting involved in sessions with volunteers and the wider community?

Ethan M: “We worked with volunteers at the pit heap, the community woods volunteers and school children who volunteer form a local school regularly. It was sad after Storm Arwen as the Friends of Pegswood Woods were devastated that there were hundreds of wind blow trees. One of the volunteers, Jean, was in tears.”

Dale: “We worked with Barry, the Tree Officer for Northumberland County Council and Groundwork NE, to help clear the area.”

Do you think your job and employment prospects have improved as a result of your training at Groundwork NE and the Green Futures programme?

Dale: “Gaining qualifications for my CV and having a good job will really help. I have talked to some local employers, it makes it more enticing to hire you. The companies have some commercial projects coming up so they will contact me when spaces become available and I am also looking for jobs. I’d be really happy if I don’t have to move away.”

What advice would you give other young people seeking opportunities?

Dale: “Even if it’s not a job you might be interested in give it a shot.”

Ethan M: “Volunteering paved the way absolutely for me at Pegswood Country Park, it definitely helped me to get onto this programme. I would say keep looking for opportunities and don’t give up.”

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An outstanding college business partnership in Ashington

When a college and local business share a common goal, they can build a special working relationship that achieves exceptional results. The close partnership between AkzoNobel and Northumberland College has developed a whole-college approach to high quality careers guidance and a successful pathway into local employment.

A global manufacturer of paints and coatings, AkzoNobel opened a new factory in Ashington five years ago. Despite its international profile, the company recognised its responsibility to tackle the local challenge of long-term high unemployment in rural Northumberland. It identified a strategic objective to enhance careers education and ensure a future local workforce.

The North East LEP played a key role in establishing and cultivating the partnership between AkzoNobel and Northumberland College. Enterprise Co-ordinator Lucy Johnson laid the groundwork with an understanding of the needs and ambitions of both organisations. This ensured a positive and sustained match. The LEP facilitated discussions, fostering a mutual understanding of each other’s agendas, terminology and organisational structures. All sides recognised the immense benefits of a whole-college approach, with the full support of Vice Principal Vikkie Morton and with AkzoNobel joining the board of governors.

This unique partnership gave Director of Student Services Ruth Magnus and AkzoNobel Enterprise Adviser Alex Wardle the autonomy and scope to deliver an ambitious strategic careers plan. Ruth introduced Alex to the college’s relevant curriculum departments and student communities. A whole-college approach, says Ruth, provides learners with the best guidance and employer encounters, “from their first course of study through to their next steps into employment, apprenticeships or higher education.”

Working closely with Curriculum Director Robert Stewart, they identified areas where AkzoNobel could make positive interventions. For example, AkzoNobel used its industry knowledge, technical expertise and focus on lean techniques to introduce practical problem solving methodologies and theories on personality types into pastoral lessons.

Alex is an enthusiastic and engaged Enterprise Adviser who has devoted time to thoroughly understand how the college works. This dedication has given AkzoNobel insight into how they can best add value in preparing students for the world of work. “The right frame of mind is key”, says Alex. Students need to be encouraged to start thinking early about their career progression and to understand the behaviours and attributes employers are looking for.

The college is piloting a Reward and Recognition Scheme to emphasise employability skills. Over the year, AkzoNobel will run three masterclasses for Engineering and Construction students. The college will award students with a certificate based on their attendance and progression, as well as volunteering in the community. This certificate will be recognised by AkzoNobel and guarantee them an interview, demonstrating their readiness for the world of work.

Alex expects this scheme to expand into other curriculum areas, and Ruth would like to see it replicated across the Education Partnership North East, building similar relationships between Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form and local employers.

AkzoNobel also supports the college with workshops, one-to-one sessions and mock interviews, as well as site visits and work experience placements. Last month, Northumberland College held a successful career fair for National Careers Week, where students learned more about opportunities with AkzoNobel and other local employers.

Alex is a driving force in the expanding and deepening cooperation between the college and local business. She has been instrumental in bringing more employers and colleges together through her work with the Enterprise Adviser Network. By working collaboratively across colleges, this group of advisers has been able to share and promote best practice.

AkzoNobel now has former college students working at its Ashington site and sees more leavers applying. The partnership also contributes to job satisfaction and wellbeing at AkzoNobel. “Going into college and delivering a masterclass is not part of the normal job,” explains Alex, but it has led to greater engagement in the team. For example, when a new operator came for an interview, he remembered the site manager from a college visit. “It’s lovely for the employees to know they can have an impact, even if it is a couple of years down the line.”

Ruth reports significant improvement in soft skills at the college, including attendance. In addition, students have a more positive attitude on campus and are more engaged with their studies. This strong performance has followed through into work experience, with fewer placements breaking down due to attendance or attitude. Employer feedback also shows greater satisfaction with students.

“Education feeds industry”, says Alex, and “it’s absolutely the right thing for business to support the college and in the past, we have let that relationship drift apart.” Ruth agrees: “Our courses need scrutiny from business to keep them relevant and up-to-date.” This engagement is essential to ensure students have the values and skills for a successful career. “It is necessary,” says Alex, “if businesses want to be sustainable, with a future ready workforce. It is the only answer.”

Find our more about the North East LEP’s Enterprise Adviser Network, and how your business can support careers education in the region.

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In conversation: Louise Kempton and Kim Smith

The North East LEP has recently begun a collaborative project with Newcastle University called Realising North East Ambition. Here, Dr Louise Kempton at the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies and LEP Enterprise and Education Lead Kim Smith talk about this important new research.

How did this project come about?

Louise: Ensuring our research has impact beyond the University is fundamental to the work we do at the Centre for Urban and Regional Development. We developed this project in collaboration with the LEP to design research that can directly benefit policy interventions in the North East.

In recognition of the value of this collaboration, the University and the LEP secured funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The research council’s Local Acceleration Fund (LAF) aims to strengthen policy makers’ access to research, data and academic expertise.

Kim: The LEP is always looking for ways to develop a robust and practical evidence base to develop our programming.

Our North East Ambition programme brings educators and businesses together to support young people with the careers guidance they need to succeed in the labour market. This improves the supply of a skilled workforce, ready and prepared for the world of work, ensuring that the North East has a pipeline of talented employees.

So we are excited to be collaborating with Newcastle University to deepen our evidence base and assess what works in careers intervention.

What is the main aim of the research?

Louise: Realising North East Ambition will study the barriers and drivers for young people’s employment and career progression. It will combine innovative social science with the LEP’s extensive local knowledge to provide new insights into the career destinations of young people and the policy design needed to drive positive change.

Kim: Working together will allow the project team to carry out new research on the formation and initiation of career pathways of young people. We will talk to colleges, schools and students, as well as charities and other voluntary organisations supporting young people’s employment and career progression in the sector.

What will the research involve?

Kim: We know the importance of excellent career advice and guidance, including high-quality work experience, knowledge of the labour market and understanding routes into work. But we still have so much to learn about how to design the best programmes to support our young people.

Louise: The team will study the journey from college student’s initial aspirations and careers guidance through to choices, training and destination. This will help us understand the barriers preventing young people from securing and retaining better jobs. It will also allow us to identify the drivers that promote a pipeline to skilled jobs with good career progressions.

Our research will delve into what works in careers education and guidance. It will go beyond formal barriers to examine the informal influence of parents, teachers, peers and role models. It will allow future interventions to focus on the most important factors affecting young people’s career choices.

And what outcomes can we expect to see from the research?


Louise: Over the next few months, the team will hold several events, workshops and roundtables with employers, educators and young people. Information about these events will be shared on our twitter account and across social media.

Our research will bring together regional partners to share data and analysis. It will deepen collaboration between Newcastle University, the North East LEP and its partners. And it will build a productive relationship and enhance a community of practice, based around local intelligence and high-quality academic research.

Kim: A full report will be published this summer, including co-produced policy recommendations that will be actionable for colleges. It will provide the North East LEP and its partners with critical insights to inform both current programmes and future interventions. This will contribute to North East Ambition’s goal to deliver outstanding and tailored careers guidance so each and every young person in the region can realise their ambitions.


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Using labour market intelligence to make better career decisions

Victoria Sutherland, Head of Evidence at the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, was one of the keynote speakers at the launch of National Careers Week 2022. Here, she gives an insight into how labour market information can inform careers guidance for children and young people.

One of What Works Growth’s main aims is to help policymakers understand the evidence on what works in local economic growth. We believe good evidence is essential to good decision-making. This principle isn’t unique to local economic growth – what works centres in other policy areas such as education, crime, health and wellbeing fulfil a similar role – and it is also true for the decisions we make as individuals.

Why is labour market intelligence important?

One of the most important decisions is about the careers we wish to pursue. This raises an interesting question about what information individuals use to make these career decisions.

All of us have information about the labour market. For example, we know what jobs family members, friends and those in our wider communities do and people tell us stories about those jobs – good and bad! We also encounter different types of jobs through TV, films, games, print and social media.

Unfortunately, the labour market is diverse and complex – so relying on just the experience of those close to you or what is portrayed in the media gives a partial view of the careers available, what they involve, and how to access them.

This is why labour market intelligence (LMI) – the provision of data on the labour market – is so important.  LMI helps make sense of the labour market so we can make better decisions about our careers. And as key career decisions are made when we are young it’s particularly important to expose young people to this kind of information.

How can we make best use of labour market intelligence?

Last week was National Careers Week and one of the most inspiring parts of Monday’s launch event was hearing young people talking about what they learnt from LMI. None of them recited statistics about sectoral shares or pay – but it was clear they better understood their options, and how these aligned with their interests and preferences. LMI also seemed to have given them a degree of confidence about their future.

This is because LMI can open-up the conversations we have with young people about the labour market. For example, a discussion about which sectors employ the most people can be used to explore key concepts (what is the difference between a sector and an occupation), illustrate the breadth of jobs available in that sector, and discuss how jobs will change over time. 

Once young people have this broader understanding, they can return to the data to help them choose between careers and find the best route into their chosen option.

Improving LMI and the evidence on what works

It’s important that we continue to improve LMI. The labour market is constantly changing, and new data sources and ways of presenting information emerging.  National Careers Week provides an important opportunity for careers leaders to stay on top of what’s available and to share their experiences of using LMI.

As a what works centre, we also think it’s important that we develop our understanding of ‘what works’ in LMI. The Education Endowment Foundation looked at the evidence on careers education in 2016 and two-thirds of the studies they reviewed found careers education had positive impacts on economic outcomes such as wages. However, very few studies looked at the impact of LMI. 

There will be more and less effective ways to communicate LMI to young people, and it would be good to test this through trials. What Works Growth doesn’t work in schools, but if you are involved in post-16 careers provision and you have an idea you would like to test, we could potentially offer support. Please get in touch with the What Works Growth team if you have an idea you would like to discuss.

You can find information and resources on labour market information on the North East Ambition website. Take a look.


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National Careers Week 2022 keynote speakers announced

The line-up of keynote speakers has been announced for this year’s National Careers Week launch event, which takes place online and in person on Monday 7 March.

The theme of the event is ‘You’ – how you as a careers leader, educator or employer can support young people to take control, explore, learn, and believe in their futures.

We’ll explore themes including:

  • how to make best use of labour market information,
  • building partnerships between business and education,
  • equipping young people with the skills employers need,
  • and helping them to see the opportunities open to them.

And throughout the event, we’ll hear from young people about their own experiences of careers guidance and their plans for the future.

Keynote speakers

The event will be hosted by Lucy Winskell OBE, Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Victoria Sutherland, Head of Evidence at the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth will then give an insight into how factors including COVID, digitalisation and the drive to reach net zero are changing the job market and opportunities for young people.

Sarah Glendinning, Regional Director of the CBI, will focus on building closer links between employers and the curriculum.

Michelle Rainbow, the North East LEP’s Skills Director, will explain what’s been happening in the North East to improve careers guidance, and the impact it’s having on young people.

The North East LEP’s Education Challenge Regional Lead, Neil Willis, will share how schools and colleges in the North East are forming partnerships with employers to raise the standard of careers guidance.

Ellen Thinnesen, who is Chief Executive of Education Partnership North East which comprises City of Sunderland College, Northumberland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form, and Chair of the North East LEP’s Skills Advisory Panel, will talk about the changing skills landscape and why it is so important we understand and act on this.

And the Founder of National Careers Week, Nick Newman, will discuss how good careers guidance has the power to change lives.

The National Careers Week launch event headline partners are Natwest Group and NHS Health Careers.

If you’d like to join us, either online or in person at Newcastle Crowne Plaza, book your free place now: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/national-careers-week-launch-event-2022-118579

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Younger, and more diverse, governors needed for North East schools

Having a strong and effective board of governors in a school can make a real difference to the life chances of young people. That’s why the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has formed partnerships with national organisations and programmes, including Inspiring Governance, to support employees from North East businesses to become governors. The North East LEP’s Neil Willis explains more.

School governors are the single largest group of volunteers in the UK. Over a quarter of a million people help improve outcomes for children and young people by volunteering as part of a school’s governing board. But we still need more governors – and a more diverse range of them – here in the North East.

Here at the North East LEP, 11 members of the team, including myself, are school governors. This has increased from two since we became the first LEP in the country to sign the School Governor Champion Charter, which supports staff members to become governors in local schools.

It’s a rewarding role and, as well as giving back to their community, people can improve their own skillsets in things like leadership and project management, so it’s an opportunity for personal and professional development too.

We recently commissioned some research from the National Governance Association, based on their 2021 Annual Governance Survey, into the picture in the North East. Nearly two thirds of respondents in our region find it a challenge to fill their governor vacancies. What’s more, 63% of governors who participated in the survey are aged 50 or over, and we’d love to see more young people taking on the role.

And of course we also want governing boards to reflect the communities they serve, so it was good to see that only 2.6% of respondents to the survey said their board didn’t reflect the makeup of their local community at all – although I’d love to see this number reduce to zero.

Governors can have a positive impact on careers education and guidance, and it’s recommended that boards identify a governor with the responsibility for taking a strategic interest in the school’s careers programme. It was encouraging to see that governors across the North East draw on their local employers and local employer partnerships, such as the LEP or Chamber, when developing their careers education strategy.

In many cases, this is a great opportunity for representatives from local businesses, who can bring their sector knowledge to the role. For a business that supports their employees to volunteer on governing boards it can be a great way of connecting with the community and developing your team’s professional skills.

While many individual volunteers and businesses are clearly involved with school governance in our region, it’s something we can build on, and we can do that by supporting a wider range of people, with a wider range of skills and experience, to get involved with their schools in the region.

It’s a myth that you need to know a lot about education to be a governor, and all sorts of skillsets are needed to make an effective governing body. There is a lot of support, professional development and training available to those who volunteer to ensure governing boards are effective in their core functions.

You can find out more about becoming a governor here, or email [email protected].  

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National Careers Week 2022 launches in the North East

This year’s National Careers Week will be launched in Newcastle upon Tyne, in recognition of pioneering work carried out in North East England to raise the standard of careers guidance for children and young people. Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), explains how businesses, schools and colleges have worked together to pilot new ways of delivering careers guidance.

The North East LEP is delighted to be co-hosting the launch of this year’s National Careers Week. This is the first time this event has been held in the North of England and is recognition of the outstanding work of our partners across the region.

This is a fantastic chance for careers leaders, educators and employers to share best practice and knowledge on improving careers guidance. We are honoured to be joined at this year’s launch by representatives from HM Government — an excellent opportunity to show off the incredible work happening in careers guidance across the country.

After last year’s virtual event, we’re very pleased to invite people from across the country to this in-person launch. Attendees will also be able to participate online and this hybrid model has been one of the positive learnings of the last two years. You can book your tickets for the in-person or online versions now.

National Careers Week celebrates the power of careers guidance to change lives. It transforms students’ futures, from better attainment in school to social mobility, with broader horizons and raised aspirations.

Careers guidance is central to our strategic plan at the North East LEP and we are proud of the hard work of our team, developing innovative approaches with schools and colleges.

We also recognise that change takes time. There is no quick fix to establishing the support and opportunities young people need. Improvements are hard-won and incremental over the long term. And we still have a long way to go. So National Careers Week is an invaluable opportunity to learn from challenges and build on achievements.

This year’s theme is “you”. At the launch, our morning sessions will focus on how you — as careers leaders, business leaders, educators and parents — can support young people to make informed choices about their future.

Sessions will cover the importance of understanding the labour market and how careers leaders can integrate this into the curriculum. We will look at ways to build sustainable and meaningful employer engagement with schools and colleges.

There will be a session on opportunity awareness and how to help students understand the full range of pathways open to them and where they lead. And we will also hear from young people about their experiences starting careers and developing skills for today’s economy and for the future.

In the afternoon, everyone is welcome to attend our regional career event and learn more from our schools and business partners.

Each day over the rest of the week we will take up one of these four themes and celebrate achievements here in the North East. Schools and colleges will host events alongside campaigns, videos and articles — offline and on social media.

Everyone is invited to join the conversation using #NCW2022 and you can visit the National Careers Week website to download toolkits to promote your involvement.

The National Careers Week 2022 launch event takes place on Monday 7 March from 9.30am until 12.45pm. Attendees can join via Zoom or in-person at the Crowne Plaza in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre.

More information and tickets are available here.


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Traineeship leads to permanent role at North Tyneside community garden

A young trainee has been offered a permanent role after completing a six-month placement at a North Tyneside community garden.

TJ Ferguson, who is 23 and lives in North Shields, has been appointed as Community Garden Assistant at Meadow Well Connected.

His new role involves gardening, horticulture and landscaping projects in Meadow Well Connected’s 5.5-acre community garden. He also supports adults with additional needs to use the garden and works with pupils from local schools who have additional needs or are disengaged from mainstream education.

“TJ fitted in well with the garden team from the outset. He’s a hard worker and is keen to get involved with work that helps the environment and supports his local community. We created this new role to ensure we could continue to employ TJ beyond the end of his Kickstart placement as he’d made such a valuable contribution to our community garden,” said Mandi Cresswell, Chief Officer, Meadow Well Connected.

“I really enjoyed my placement in the garden at Meadow Well Connected. I’ve been given chances to learn new skills, increase in confidence and work alongside lots of different people. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to continue to work here as every day is different but always fun and rewarding,” said TJ Ferguson, Community Garden Assistant.

Meadow Well Connected is one of 14 voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the North East which were awarded funding from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme, which aims to help communities across the North East recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding was used towards the regeneration of the community garden and to help provide training for young people in landscaping, biodiversity and horticulture.

TJ’s training took the form of a six-month Kickstart placement – part of a government scheme to support 16 to 24 year olds into work.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East LEP, said: “The aim of this funding is to support VCSE organisations in creating stronger, greener communities and helping to give people the skills they need to reach their full potential.

“TJ starting a new career and becoming part of a valuable hub like Meadow Well Connected is a brilliant example of what local communities and VCSE organisations are achieving across our region.”

Find out about other projects funded by the Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme here.