The following article appeared on the front page of the National LSC intranet today 2nd October 2007.
Learners help to keep Sheffield clean, safe and green 02.10.07
A partnership programme in Sheffield is providing a much needed learning opportunity for teenagers, and also contributes significantly towards keeping Sheffield clean, safe and green.
Since it started in 1998 around 2,000 learners have been through the City Stewardship programme, which was set up as a partnership between Community Training Services (CTS), Sheffield Homes and Kier Sheffield. Many have gone on to become apprentices with Kier, as is the case for the latest successful learners who have successfully got onto Kier’s 2007/08 Apprenticeship programme.
The programme includes environmental work to improve the appearance of estates, gardening for elderly people, painting and decorating empty properties, fitting smoke alarms, and fitting door and window locks, and door chains as part of a crime reduction scheme.
Andy Biggin, training officer for Kier Sheffield, commented: “The City Stewardship programme offers fantastic benefits for both the young people and the tenants of the city. Kier recognises the need to offer young people the chance to succeed in a different environment and supports a variety of training initiatives to deliver this.”
Kier’s commitment to its employment plan reflects in its most recent accolade, the Business in the Community (BITC) Big Tick Employability Award which recognises companies that have effectively removed barriers to employment, resulting in disadvantaged people finding jobs.
Disadvantaged young people in Sheffield have completed their City Stewardship programme and have progressed to full Apprenticeship programmes.
