Five recruits to award-winning scheme

A pioneering training scheme run by New East Manchester has just recruited a new cohort of Regeneration Assistants.

The scheme recently scooped the top award in the training category at the first Regeneration and Renewal Awards 2007.

This year, 145 applications were received and five candidates were successful in obtaining places on the programme. The five new recruits include:

• Cheryl Collinson (38), a mother of two from Openshaw, who had been a full time Mum and wanted to get back on the career ladder;
• Amy Ward (23) a graduate in International Fashion Marketing from Newton Heath;
• Jacqueline Salmon (22), a mother of one from Clayton who was previously a shop assistant at the NEXT store at Sportcity and is a talented singer who spent six years singing with X Factor winner Shayne Ward at Music Stuff at Crossley House Youth Centre in Openshaw;
• Lenny Wright (25) who is a Geography graduate who lives in Levenshulme;
• Nadira Miah (24) a mother of one from Crumpsall who used to work at North Manchester General hospital and speaks three languages.

All five Regeneration Assistants are currently undertaking the Level 2 NVQ 'Working in the Community' and will progress to Level 3 and then onto the Foundation Degree in 'Neighbourhood Renewal'.

Since starting the scheme in 2005, New East Manchester has recruited 13 local people to this unique initiative that aims to help local people access jobs in the regeneration industry. The project provides a structured, accredited training programme combined with work experience to gain skills, practical knowledge and relevant qualifications that will provide a good grounding in regeneration and give young people a chance of getting on the first step on the career ladder.

Sean McGonigle, New East Manchester's Director of Regeneration who heads up the scheme said: "This programme was the first of its kind in the country. Although apprenticeships take place across the UK in many forms, this practice had never been applied to regeneration before. We have been very pleased with the success of the project and the way it has evolved over the past couple of years.

"The Assistants have brought a new perspective to community led regeneration and have had a profound effect not just on their own career and prospects but on the social well being of the local community. Having local people within the core team has helped engage other members of the community bringing greater trust through shared experiences. Individually each assistant has built their own self-esteem, confidence and capacity to develop a long-term career in regeneration and raised the aspirations of local people who can now see a progression route into regeneration careers."

Damien Bourke, Policy and Partnerships Manager at the NWDA, said: "There is an enormous amount of regeneration activity taking place across East Manchester and this is creating a wealth of new opportunities for all the area's residents. This project, which enables local people to gain valuable experience in the regeneration sector and helps them to develop new career opportunities in the industry, is proving a real success and the NWDA is pleased to provide its support."

Initial funding for the Regeneration Assistant Project came from New Deal for Communities and the North West Regional Development Agency. Due to the success of the project, the second intake received 50 per cent of project costs from partnership organisations including Sure Start and Eastlands Homes, enabling the assistants to undertake placements within their organisations.

For more information visit www.neweastmanchester.com

Media contact:

Roz Hughes at New East Manchester, tel 0161 223 1155