YOUNGSTERS in Solihull have the chance to get a construction qualification thanks to a generous donation.
Housebuilder Barratt Homes has given £1,500 to Building 4 Hope, a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable young adults, as part of its Community Fund scheme.
The Hall Green-based charity gives young people who are not in education, training or employment (NEET) the chance to gain recognised construction qualifications and life skills.
Kevin Byrne, chief executive at Building 4 Hope, said: “Very often our users will have almost no schooling and would be turned away from both employment and other training schemes because of their lack of qualifications.
“We support our learners with job interviews, driving tests, budgeting, basic numeracy, fitness and literacy amongst other skills. We will even continue to support our users as they go into the workplace.
“We use construction as a practical tool which helps to give our young people the means to develop these skills and attributes, with many of our learners having gone into the construction industry as well as other fields.”
The charity has seen over 90 per cent of its learners going into employment or further education.
Due to this, more and more young people in the West Midlands are seeking support from Building 4 Hope.
Barratt Homes’ donation came from The Barratt Foundation, which is designed to support national and local charities, large and small, across the UK to leave a legacy in the communities in which the housebuilder operates.
Adrian Evans, managing director at Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “It’s vital that we provide young adults with realistic and well-structured pathways into further education and employment to ensure they don’t struggle later in life.
“We encourage anyone between 16 and 24-years-old with an interest in construction and may be struggling to visit Building 4 Hope and see what support they have to offer.”
