Youngsters benefit from SARH learning academy

SIX young people from Stafford and Stone are the latest to benefit from the training and employment opportunities provided by a Stafford housing association’s Learning Academy.

Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) has taken on the youngsters – all aged between 19 and 24 – through the government’s Youth Contract programme working in partnership with the Shaw Trust.

“We have developed a successful partnership with the Shaw Trust that is enabling us to equip local young people with the skills and experience they need to gain long-term employment,” said Jo Hough.

Javesh French, Thomas Spink, Matt Jenkins, Daniel Pointon and Blake Jackson, from Stafford and Ashley Jones, from Stone, will all work alongside the tradesmen in SARH’s Repairs First service on six month contracts.

“We have a fantastic, growing relationship with SARH and are enormously grateful for the opportunities and support that they provide for the young people in the local area, who are actively seeking employment. We are now on our third batch of intakes and the scheme goes from strength to strength, with innumerable success stories being testament to this.”

The group is the third cohort to be taken on by SARH through the Youth Contract this year as six young people also completed contracts in September.

In 2012 a further 10 trainees also worked with SARH as a result of the programme.

“I hope that the young people involved will be inspired by their time working with SARH,” said Karen Armitage, Chief Executive of SARH.

“When we set first set up our learning academy our aim was to provide opportunities to help local people into sustained employment and I’m delighted at the successes we have already had working with local partners such as the Shaw Trust.”

In addition to this initiative, SARH provides a series of formal apprenticeships and works with local training providers to provide employment and training opportunities.