Young Teessiders help open door with steel money

Young people on Teesside from a range of cultural backgrounds are helping others in their community by transforming a drop-in centre for Middlesbrough-based charity Open Door North East.

The 16-strong group has come together on a Team Programme run by The Prince’s Trust which aims to build self-confidence and develop skills that will help them into work or training.

They won a total of £2,500 from UK Steel Enterprise after giving an impressive Dragons Den-style presentation to a business panel in a bid to raise funds for the community projects they undertake as part of the 12-week development programme.

UKSE, the business-support subsidiary of Tata Steel, provided £1,500 towards refurbishing facilities at Open Door North East, a charity working to relieve poverty and help disadvantaged people including refugees and asylum seekers. The young team is busy decorating, re-covering a pool table and installing kitchen units at the Centre.

UK Steel Enterprise also gave £1000 towards a similar project to help the Teesside Homeless Action Group based in Redcar with another panel member, Daniel Tennant of Military Fitness Training, donating an additional £500.

Paul Catterall, chief executive of Open Door North East said: “We are so grateful to UK Steel Enterprise for the generous support that has enabled the team to make-over our main meeting room. We are a small charity providing services to some of the most marginalised individuals living on Teesside and this will make such a difference.

“It is a particularly exciting project because it not only helps the young people develop valuable skills for employment but it also builds bridges and fosters community cohesion.”

Martin Copley of The Prince’s Trust Team at Stockton Riverside College said: “We are delighted that UK Steel Enterprise found it impossible to choose between two impressive presentations from this team so are funding both. Just preparing and giving these presentations to a business panel is a really valuable experience for the young people.”

Peter Taylor, area manager for UK Steel Enterprise, said: “We have now supported around 14 Prince’s Trust Teams from our special Community Support Fund. They not only help a lot of people who are in real need but also have an excellent success rate when it comes to getting young people in our steel areas into employment.”