Employability Project: Yorkshire Forward Award Winners!

Well done to everyone who has taken part in the Employability project with Project Challenge, we are now the glad owners of a Yorkshire Forward Creating Better Futures 2009 Award!!!

In the words of Yorkshire Forward and Matthew Pincent;

These prestigious awards highlight the successful partnerships between private sector and voluntary, community and faith organisations. They aim to demonstrate true partnership working and encourage the sharing and development of skills, knowledge and best practice within the community for its economic development.  Each of the winning voluntary organisations received a prize of £10,000 to invest in their cause.

Four times Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent presented the evening’s awards and spoke of his experience of how strong partnerships and a commitment to succeed, even in the face of adversity, is the key to success – be it Olympic or everyday. 

Congratulating all the awards finalists and winners, Matthew commented; “In difficult times it has never been more important for people to feel their efforts are being recognised.  This is not a time to just think about surviving, it is a time to commit everything you have to success and work as a team to achieve your goal. These companies and organisations have all done that, and it is great to see.”

Terry Hodgkinson, Chair of Yorkshire Forward presented the awards with Matthew and told those present: “The work you all do, day in and day out is amazing. It changes the lives of people less fortunate, opens doors and it gives everyone the chance they deserve. The business benefits of a good CSR policy shouldn’t be underplayed or considered selfish they should be championed…and loudly! The locality we do business in is important but the growth of our people is too. They are our greatest assets and if they are growing by learning new skills for work and for life - Your organisations will grow too.”

Six of the evening’s awards went to partnerships involving companies in the private sector from across the region, including Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Sheffield.

Calderdale Cares and Project Challenge with RSA Group, Pennine Housing 2000, Marshalls plc, the Halifax, and Calderdale College were rewarded for their efforts to build on the work of ‘Project Challenge’, which aims to change the attitudes, behaviour and involvement of young people through a six-month training Programme to assist them in training or work, and to develop further their self-confidence.

Jocelyn Hunter, Calderdale Cares Manager comments;
"We are delighted to receive this award, it gives this unique partnership the recognition it deserves for all its hard work. The whole group is committed to continue working with young people and give them chances and opportunities for work and we will be using the bursary to support the incredible work that Project Challenge do. We also hope that this award inspires others to join us to help increase our impact even further!"

Pennine Magazine - January 2009

Ace apprentice Nick Carter has gone from a week's work experience to
picking up a major award - all within a matter of months.

He is pictured here with our estate co-ordinator Spencer Lister holding his award for which he was nominated from hundreds of candidates across Calderdale and Kirklees by Halifax based Project Challenge . Nick (17) was taken completely by surprise when he was whisked away to receive the accolade which he gained by completing a 6 month training course culminating in a self supporting expedition to Norway through the project's Entry to Employment scheme and then emerging as a top grounds maintenance trainee.

He and Ben Fieldhouse (18), who also joined us through the same
scheme, have both gained year long contracts with Pennine for their
outstanding work.

Evening Courier - December 2008