North East housing providers secure six figure funding for employability project

A group of North of Tyne housing providers have successfully secured funding to deliver an innovative employability project to help unlock potential in the region.

The partnership, made up of local providers Karbon Homes, Your Homes Newcastle, Northumberland County Council, Bernicia, North Tyneside Council and Changing Lives, has received £716,612 from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

The eight-month project aims to incorporate new ways of thinking and build on the success of existing employment schemes and consists of three parts.

Firstly, a foundational economy study in North Shields, Blyth and Byker, aimed at identifying the barriers to employability in those communities.

Secondly, a new employability programme called ‘New Start’, providing paid work placements for over 25s building on the successful government Kickstart scheme aimed at 16-24 year olds.

Finally, a feasibility study, to explore the idea of a shared placement model of employment for North East SMEs.

Charlotte Carpenter, Executive Director of Growth and Business Development at Karbon Homes, said: “We’re delighted to have been successful in our funding bid for the UK Community Renewal Fund.

“By combining the knowledge and experiences of multiple housing providers in the region we have created a unique concept which will take great strides in building our understanding of the labour market barriers in the North East, which in term will help us monitor the impact of our interventions.”

Mayor Jamie Driscoll said: “The New Start Scheme means more people and more employers will be part of the region’s recovery from Covid-19. It’s a collaborative approach that brings together the right people and the right organisations.

“This scheme will give people a helping hand into jobs. Increasing job prospects changes people’s lives and that’s what I want. I want everyone to be able to see their own potential”.