The Turnaround Project and Kinship Care NI have received £5,000 and £4,000, respectively, via an initiative that is managed by Belfast International Airport owner VINCI.
Details
A statement announcing the news said that the VINCI UK Foundation has granted the funds to the two charities after they were nominated by airport staff.
The Turnaround Project will use its £5,000 donation to fund its Ground Maintenance Social Enterprise to create up to 10 additional transitional employment places for individuals who have completed or are serving a sentence.
Meanwhile, Kinship Care NI will use its £4,000 donation to fund its School of Futures Project, delivering educational support and training opportunities to 45 young people who are aged between 16 and 25 and living in Dungannon, Magherafelt and Strabane.
The VINCI UK Foundation was established in 2016 and aims to combine financial donations with the practical expertise of VINCI employees to support charities tackling social exclusion.
To date, the foundation has helped fund more than 130 projects across Ireland and the UK with more than £1 million in grants.
Turnaround Project Director Statement
Turnaround Project director Richard Good stated, "As a social enterprise, the more we can grow our grounds maintenance business the more opportunities we can offer to people facing barriers to employment. The donation from the VINCI Foundation will help us to do just that, providing more people who are leaving the justice system to be trained, employed, and supported via strengths-based coaching to move into conventional employment.
"We see the positive impact that our transitional employment opportunities have on the lives of people who are working to turn around their own futures, and on their families. We are really grateful to the VINCI Foundation, and to the International Airport, for helping us to provide those opportunities."
Kinship Care NI Chief Executive Statements
Kinship Care NI chief executive Jacqueline Williamson stated, "Young people involved in our School of Futures Project haven’t had the easiest start to life and have experienced considerable trauma and loss. The School of Futures Project is building the confidence of young people and allowing them to see the value in themselves. We were over the moon at receiving £4,000 towards improving the education, training, and employment potential of young people in Kinship Care.
"Using the grant to purchase 10 laptops enabled our young people to complete a range of CPD Accredited courses, providing them with an opportunity to gain qualifications they can use to further their education or to apply for a job. For our part, we have observed young people growing in confidence to participate fully in the project and to support each other with training and putting together their CVs."
Williamson added, "We couldn't have delivered this project without the support of the VINCI UK Foundation and their grant of £4,000. The project is making a huge difference to young people in Kinship Care and helping improve their education and training potential."
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