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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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Community café opens, creating new jobs in Gateshead

A new community café has opened in Gateshead as part of the redevelopment of a former high street bank, creating new jobs and offering training for people who are long-term unemployed.

The Bank in Chopwell is a community-led enterprise and welfare centre which encompasses office space for small businesses, a community market and the newly-opened café.

It is one of 14 voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) projects supported by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme, receiving £100,000 towards the conversion of the former Lloyd’s bank building.

Jodie Barwick-Bell, Chair of Chopwell Regeneration CIO, which established and runs The Bank, said:  “Local people have worked together to open The Bank as a warm and welcoming place in the heart of our community. Around 500 people a week are spending time in the building which is already having a significant impact in our rural village. We are hugely grateful to the North East LEP and all the other organisations who have supported us with this vital project.”

The café operates on a ‘pay what you feel’ basis and aims to bring revenue and visitors into Chopwell while also helping to address the issue of food poverty in the area, which has been exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Five new members of staff have been recruited, including a chef, two front of house managers and a cleaner, and the café’s employability skills training programme began in April.

Upstairs from The Bank café, the office space is now home to five local organisations, while a programme of events includes coding workshops for young people, craft workshops and a pre-loved school uniform market.

The project has also already received a Bright Ideas in Health Innovation Award for ‘Making Healthier, Happier Places and Spaces’. 

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East LEP, said: “By awarding a total of £1.2 million in funding to VCSE projects in the North East, we aimed to support communities to recover from the impact of the pandemic and help create stronger, more sustainable local economies.

“The Bank is a wonderful example of this in action, combining a community space with programmes which support people’s mental health and skills development, as well as bringing new jobs to the area.”

The Bank Café is open Thursday to Saturday. Find out more at www.chopwell.org/bank.

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Celebration event marks completion of improvement works at community garden

A celebration event is being held to mark the completion of improvement works at a community garden in North Tyneside.

The Meadow Well Connected’s Community Garden, in North Shields, was awarded £54,612 from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme to create an outdoor learning space, offer training for local residents, and revitalise areas including its wildlife pond and greenhouses.

People are invited to join the celebration event at The Meadow Well Connected Community Garden on Tuesday 31 May to see the improvements and take part in activities.

Mandi Cresswell, Chief Officer, Meadow Well Connected, which runs the community garden, said: “This funding has given the garden a real boost with the chance to make significant structural improvements to the garden including upgrading the main poly tunnel, regenerating our raised beds, improving the pathways and creating a wonderful wildlife pond where nature can flourish. It’s testament to the hard work of our staff and volunteers, alongside support from Capita and other volunteers, and will create new habitats and green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

“We can’t wait to see how the garden continues to develop as we have big plans and we’d love more local people to get involved.”

The event will be opened David Bavaird, the High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear, and people can take part in garden crafts, sports activities and garden tours. There will also be an exhibition showing before and after pictures of the improvements made to the site.

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.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East LEP, said: “Over the last 18 months, this five-acre garden has flourished, with work placements and training giving people the opportunity to develop skills in landscaping and horticulture, plus a range of physical improvements including new pathways, raised beds for growing vegetables and a new wildlife pond.

“I’m pleased this funding has helped make sure Meadow Well Connected can continue to play a central role in the community and provide a place where people can learn new skills, connect with nature and connect with each other.”

Find out about other projects funded by the Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme at www.northeastlep.co.uk.

The Meadow Well Connected Garden celebration event takes place between 12 noon and 3pm on Tuesday 31 May. Find out more at www.www.meadowwellconnected.org.uk.

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More than £1.2 million awarded to North East voluntary, community and social enterprise projects

More than £1.2 million has been awarded to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the North East to fund projects that support young people in the region and that contribute to a green economic recovery.

The funding has been awarded by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), from its 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.

Projects awarded funding range from the regeneration of a community garden in Meadow Well, North Tyneside; the creation of a ‘social kitchen’ in Hendon, Sunderland; and the development of a new learning facility and 20 hectares of improved green space for public use in Newcastle.

Helen Golightly, Chief Executive of the North East LEP, said: “The VCSE sector does vital work, not only in supporting communities but it also makes a valuable contribution to creating a stronger, greener economy.

“We recognise the central role that voluntary, community and social enterprise-led projects have to play as we work together as a region to build a stronger post-pandemic North East, and this new funding will help to bring forward projects that will benefit communities across our region.”

One of the organisations to receive support is Meadow Well Connected, which will receive £54,612 towards the regeneration of a community garden which will act as a hub for the local community, with opportunities for young people to undertake training in landscaping, biodiversity and horticulture.

Mandi Cresswell, Chief Officer of Meadow Well Connected, said: “The North East LEP funding will give a massive boost to our regeneration plans for our five-acre community garden and enable us to support local young people to gain skills and experience of working outside. It will create more biodiversity locally and create shared spaces for local people to enjoy.

“Our outdoor spaces have proved vital during the COVID-19 restrictions, providing opportunities to meet safely and connect with nature. We can’t wait to start this transformative work which will make a real difference to people of all ages.”

In Sunderland, Back on the Map – a charity which works to improve quality of life for residents of Hendon – has been granted £100,472 to turn an empty shop into a community café and training space which will work to counter food poverty as well as offering training placements for young people with learning disabilities.

Julie Gray, Chair of Back on the Map, said: “We are delighted to receive this award from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership. The funds will enable us to develop a sustainable local enterprise which will provide training and employment opportunities as well as improving local retail premises and simulating the local economy in an economically deprived area.”

The Natural History Society of Northumbria, based in Newcastle, has also been awarded funding, receiving £91,500 towards its Gosforth Environmental Field Station. The project will provide a learning space for schools, colleges and universities, plus 20 hectares of woodland for public use, and builds on the existing Gosforth Nature Reserve which has been managed by volunteers since 1929.

Clare Freeman, Director, Natural History Society of Northumbria, said: “Young people will be delighted with opportunities to experience nature and develop new skills at Gosforth Nature Reserve. Skilled, enthusiastic volunteers are really excited to develop our education programme to offer a much wider range of activities, proactively inviting new community groups to experience this regional natural gem. We would love to hear from community groups, school groups, colleges and universities who may like to visit the new field station and nature reserve.”

In Gateshead, Chopwell Regeneration CIO have been awarded a grant of £100,000 to convert a former bank into an enterprise and welfare centre in the heart of Chopwell in rural west Gateshead. The centre will include a food bank, community cafe, employability skills training, and space and support for small businesses.

Jodie Barwick-Bell, Chair of Chopwell Regeneration CIO, said: “We are over the moon to receive this grant which will enable us to provide vital services from this autumn. The impact of COVID on our already deprived community is severe and the need is significant. As a result of the grant we will now be able to provide much-needed support to our community, including in particular education and training opportunities. Thank you so much to the North East LEP.”

Dean Titterton, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA North Tyneside, which was awarded funding for a youth skills academy, said: “YMCA North Tyneside are delighted to be awarded this grant from the North East LEP for work that will prove to be invaluable to young people and the community that we serve. As a thriving local charity that looks to create healthy, happy and connected communities we know that the money granted will enable us to equip individuals with the appropriate training, skills, advice and guidance for now and the future.”

A further 9 organisations also received funding to support a range of VCSE projects across the region.

Helen Golightly, Chief Executive of the North East LEP added: “All the projects which have been brought forward for funding have real potential to contribute towards a greener, better future for the North East and to engage young people with opportunities to develop their environmental awareness and skills.

“The past year has hit our region hard but I’m confident that we can collaborate and move towards recovery together, and local projects like this can play a central role.”

(Image: Madow Well Connected).