Member Article

From Building Ships to Building Futures

A new opportunity to help people get back into meaningful employment after long term illness has been launched in North Tyneside and it’s giving participants a future based on Wallsend’s past. Kelly Oliver Dougall of skills training provider and specialist carers, Cygnet North East has launched the new programme “Create Your Future” with the aim of helping people with health conditions regain skills to ease them back into employment. Kelly is confident that the new programme will help change future aspirations for those who take part in the course. “Create Your Future” looks at the economic and commercial history of Wallsend using art and creative writing as a means of getting people involved. Indeed, Cygnet North East’s offices couldn’t be better placed to reflect the town’s history as they are opposite both Segedunum and the former Swan Hunter shipyard. “The course breaks down barriers between disability and employers, builds self-confidence and belief and at the end of the project we will have a number of pieces of art that we can showcase to the local community,” said Kelly. “We are looking for people who have a health condition and are facing or have recently been made redundant or anyone who has been out of work for a few years but feels ready to start thinking about work again. If someone isn’t ready to work but wants to meet more people and they enjoy art then we can help them.” The programme already has a successful outcome as Cygnet North East’s Head of Care, John MacDonald was offered the post after he took part in job ready skills training after suffering a brain injury. “John took part in one of our courses as he was unemployed after an illness caused problems with his memory and general health,” said Kelly. “We’re hoping that by working with local businesses and the community we can have similar outcomes for some of our participants.” Kelly is encouraging businesses to support the programme by giving talks, helping with activities or contributing stories about Wallsend in the past.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Keith Newman .