Member Article

South Tyneside trust to tackle unemployment thanks to coalfields cash

Thanks to £10,000 from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Bilton Hall Community Trust will expand its workforce to bolster the services it offers to the South Tyneside community.

Recruiting a part-time Volunteer Co-ordinator, who will work 20-hours per week over the next 12-months, the successful candidate will manage 40 volunteers.

Organising training, while also establishing links with schools and external agencies, the recruit will offer volunteering and placement opportunities to young people and adults to improve their experience and chances of finding work.

Located in Jarrow, Bilton Hall Community Trust welcomes approximately 20,000 visitors per year. The centre comprises a multi-function main hall, a learning and play studio room, a sports hall and a café and seating area.

Joanna Tuck, Community Development Manager at Bilton Hall Community Trust, comments: “The centre sits in the heart of a former coalmining community, so the health and wellbeing of the local residents and our visitors is a constant concern.

“Benefitting people of all ages, the services we offer help to create a place for people to learn, relax and engage with others that are in similar situations. It’s also about the physical and fun activities that we deliver.

“This funding will allow us to do more and to tackle unemployment, which has been an ongoing challenge for our community. Using volunteering to improve people’s skills and in turn the chances of them getting a job will having a lasting and positive impact that could be lifechanging.”

Chairman of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, Peter McNestry, comments: “Just as organisations such as Bilton Hall Community Trust are a lifeline to coalfield communities, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and our Coalfields Community Investment Programme is a lifeline to these organisations.

“This is why we are pleased to be in a position to show our support for the admirable work Bilton Hall Community Trust is doing. Increasing the chances of residents finding work will ultimately lead to their health and wellbeing improving, and as such create a positive impact that will benefit individuals, their friends and family.”

Delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the Coalfields Community Investment Programme supports organisations and programmes of activity that meet with three key criteria; to address skills, employment or health and wellbeing.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in 1999 and is the only organisation dedicated to supporting former mining towns and villages.

Over the years more than 2m people have benefited from support delivered by the organisation. More than 25,500 people have been supported into work, 5,500 jobs have been created or safeguarded, 1.3m people have received the necessary support to help improve their skills and gain qualifications and over 250,000 people have participated in activities that have improve their health.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nick Hill .