A CHELMSLEY Wood secondary school has been handed funds from HS2 to give their students a boost.
John Henry Newman Catholic School was given a £72,728 grant from the high-speed rail firm to upskill students, with the goal of securing placements in voluntary and paid employment as they move through their education.
It comes as independent charity Groundwork UK show that HS2 has awarded £2.3million to 49 projects across the region.
The grants were awarded through HS2’s Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF).
HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson MP said: “HS2 is about more than just boosting connections across the UK, it’s about bringing communities together and giving towns and cities along the route the support they need to maximise the opportunities HS2 will bring whether it be through upskilling workers or protecting their local environment.
“These funds are an integral part of making this happen and it’s humbling to see the positive impact HS2 is having on communities along the route before trains have even begun running.”
To date, the HS2 project has provided funding to 197 community organisations including groups offering employability support, sports facilities for young people, and local wildlife regeneration projects.
