Partner Article

United in the fight against unemployment

REGENERATION firm The Keepmoat Group, has teamed up with Newcastle United to help tackle unemployment.

The company’s community investment programme – The Keepmoat Foundation – is working with the football club to help 14 to 15 year olds in the city prepare for work life.

Keepmoat has donated £4,800 to the club’s charitable arm, the Newcastle United Foundation, to run a series of Employability Skills Courses – which are designed to improve people’s chances of finding a job.

“The Keepmoat Foundation is committed to helping young people develop the skills which employers are looking for,” said Steve Howe, Executive Advisor to the Keepmoat Foundation.

“This gives them the best possible chance of employment in a very difficult economic environment. With help from the Newcastle United Foundation, we have found a very innovative way of fulfilling our objectives.”

Keepmoat is currently carrying out a number of major projects across the North East, including building new homes and regenerating rundown neighbourhoods.

Its funding provides places for 20 people on the new course, which will be run at Armstrong School of Business and Economics and Hadrian School of Environment, Technology And Design – which are part of the Excelsior Academy, at Denton Road – over a 10 week period.

The course is designed to build confidence, develop communications skills and improve techniques in finding and applying for jobs.

Local agencies such as Connexions, youth offending teams, Jobcentre Plus, along with charitable organisations such as the Prince’s Trust will be able to refer people to the scheme.

Once completed, the Employability Skills Course will provide people with the nationally recognised NCFE Level One qualification.

Kate Bradley, Charitable Foundation Manager at _Newcastle_United Foundation, said: “Both Newcastle United and Keepmoat are committed to helping people in the area find work.

“The course will arm people with new skills that will boost their confidence and employment prospects.

“In the current economic climate it is crucial that people who want to find work are given all the support they need and deserve.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .