SEGRO to support 30 young people through the Patchwork Foundation

SEGRO has today announced its support of the Patchwork Foundation - a charity that equips young people from disadvantaged and under- represented backgrounds to actively participate in democracy and civil society and inspire careers in government and the public sector.

SEGRO is funding a 10-month Masterclass Programme in which 30 young people - who live in the communities in which SEGRO operates - will take part in a range of sessions; topics covered include leadership, media and journalism, campaigning and policy making. The sessions will be hosted by Members of Parliament, senior civil servants, government ministers, distinguished journalists and a session on Leadership from SEGRO’s CEO, David Sleath.

In addition to the Masterclasses, the participants will receive one-to-one guidance and support from the charity to help them with future plans. The programme includes sharing knowledge and teaching them practical skills such as CV writing and interview techniques. The course will culminate in a graduation event in December 2019.

Founded in 2011, The Patchwork Foundation is a UK-based charity committed to strengthening democracy by engaging with young people from traditionally underrepresented communities.

In previous years, many graduates of the programme have gone on to work in politics, charities and the private sector or pursued further education with the support of the Foundation.

SEGRO is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates through a variety of funding interventions, volunteering, training and employment programmes. Since 2015, SEGRO has contributed over £340,0000 to grass-roots community groups and charities through the SEGRO Community Fund. The fund helps to provide training and volunteering opportunities to the local community to help people into employment or education.

Neil Impiazzi, Partnership Development Director, SEGRO said:

“The Patchwork Foundation is an excellent charity that gives under-represented young people a fantastic opportunity to engage with senior decision makers in government, politics and the public sector. We want to inspire the next generation of MPs, councillors and policy makers to shape their future communities and create great places to live, work and unwind.”

“At SEGRO, we work to improve the skills and employability of those people who live in the communities in which we operate, and this charity compliments the breadth of schemes that we support via our SEGRO Community Fund.”

Farminda Bi, Chair, Patchwork Foundation, said:

“We are pleased to have received support from SEGRO in running a 2019 Masterclass Programme. Through the course, we support young people to develop confidence, skills and contacts that help them with their personal and professional development. Young people from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups will have access to, and the ability to learn from, the most influential people in government and the media and will do so in places they would normally never enter. We look forward to working with SEGRO to help ensure politics becomes more accessible for all young people and to encourage them to pursue their personal ambitions.”

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.