Tyne Housing celebrates “essential” employability funding boost

A North East employability programme supporting vulnerable adults has received almost £50k from the Nationwide Community Grants programme.

Tyne Housing, which provides housing and support to some of the North East’s most vulnerable people, developed the ‘Move-on Programme’ in 2019 to help residents living in emergency or supported accommodation move towards independent living, training, employment and volunteering.

The programme has been awarded around £50k from Nationwide Building Society’s Community Grants programme, which aims to support housing and homelessness projects across the UK, and will be spent over the next three years to support the cost of a full-time employability coach, as well as training and support for project beneficiaries and a small budget for volunteer expenses.

The Move-on Programme builds on the work Tyne Housing does as a specialist provider of crisis and supported accommodation, helping those who are often overlooked by mainstream employability programmes to “develop and achieve their aspirations”.

Housing support is also provided, recognising the vulnerability of the transitional period into a new home by helping with practicalities such as budgeting and maintenance.

This support is delivered by a dedicated employability coach, who will work flexibly with residents to provide one to one guidance and advice, group employability sessions, housing-management assistance and access to job opportunities.

Bryan Beverley, wellbeing and learning manager at Tyne Housing, said: “We’re delighted to have received this funding boost from Nationwide for our Move-on Programme, which goes a long way to supporting our residents to realise their capabilities and aspirations.

“Move-on plays an essential role in the transition between supported housing and independent living, and this grant will enable us to continue delivering this important programme which, for a number of vulnerable adults, can be the stepping stone to a better life.”

The programme will also seek to recruit 10 Tyne residents, and where possible Move-on ‘graduates’, as volunteers to build upon the capacity and sustainability of the programme, creating a progression route in its own right.

Tom Wright, branch manager at Nationwide Building Society, added: “The grant will make a positive difference to so many individuals in our local community. Local charities have been hit by the pandemic and anything we can do to support and help them continue their valuable work with local communities is so important.”

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