SEGRO helps hundreds secure employment
24 employment-focussed charities awarded SEGRO grants in 2017/18. 1105 individuals across London and Berkshire supported. Over 100 individuals secured employment
Over 100 people have secured employment as a result of the grants made by the SEGRO Community Fund in the 2017/18 funding round.
24 employment-focussed charities across the areas in London and the Thames Valley where SEGRO operates, each received up to £5,000 to deliver vocational training and qualifications to help prepare individuals for employment.
The training courses that were delivered to over 1000 individuals ranged from interview preparation to building confidence and mentoring. This training has helped transition some individuals from claiming benefits into paid secure work and enabled 93 people to gain relevant and recognised work experience.
In total, SEGRO donated over £117,000 to 24 charities, 11 were in Berkshire and 13 were from the following London boroughs; Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Havering, Hounslow and Newham.
SmartWorks, the Nationwide charity with presence in Bracknell that provides high quality clothing and interview training to unemployed women supported 12 individuals with their £5,000 grant.
Mandy, a beneficiary of SmartWorks, said: “Everyone was so nice and made me feel comfortable and more confident. The coaching and techniques I was given have been invaluable. Thank you to everyone that has helped me today, I am leaving with a much more positive and confident mindset.”
The Barking and Dagenham (B&D) Unemployed People’s Association used its grant to deliver 15 training workshops on business enterprise skills every Saturday for 30 weeks.
Hassan, 18, a beneficiary of the Barking and Dagenham Unemployed People’s Association, said: “I dropped education after completing my GCSE’s. I had language problems, no skills and poor self-confidence. I had no work and developed mental problems. I went to the B&D Unemployed People’s Association and enrolled in the Enterprise and IT training project. I participated in the training for one year and developed my skills and confidence. The organisation supported me by registering me with HMRC to start a self-employed business. I have now started my own business which started making profit very quickly and I have taken on two unemployed people who are now working for me. I am grateful to the B&D Unemployed People’s Association.”
Neil Impiazzi, Partnership Development Director, SEGRO said:
“The SEGRO Community Fund is a great way for us to support grass root community projects and local charities that have a positive impact in the communities where we operate.
“We are proud to assist these organisations with the great work they do to support our local communities and ensure those in vulnerable or disadvantaged positions have a pathway into employment.”
The 2018/9 round was announced in June 2018 and awarded to the successful bidders in October 2018. The next round of funding will be launched in June 2019. The London Community Foundation and the Berkshire Community Foundation have partnered with SEGRO to administer the process.
About SEGRO plc
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and light industrial property. It owns or manages 6.9 million square metres of space (74 million square feet) valued at over £10 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in eight other European countries.
The SEGRO Community Fund was set up by SEGRO in 2015, to support grass root community projects and local charities that have a positive impact in the communities where we operate.
See www.SEGRO.com for further information.
About the London Community Foundation
The London Community Foundation (LCF) is a grant-making charity that makes a difference to the lives of Londoners by connecting people who need help with those who are willing to give. Child poverty, unemployment, isolation, homelessness, domestic violence and gang crime are just some of the issues being tackled through their grant-making. https://londoncf.org.uk/
About the Berkshire Community Foundation
The Berkshire Community Foundation is a grant-making charity. They fund local charities and community groups who work at the grassroots level, addressing issues such as child poverty, unemployment, social isolation and homelessness. http://www.berkshirecf.org/