City Gateway supports young people and women into work
Location: London
ESF Funding: Skills Funding Agency
ESF Target Group: Young People, Women
Prominent among the organisations with nominees to the London ESF & ERDF Awards in November 2011 was City Gateway. This East London based ESF funded project had four nominees for awards, and of these, three of them were award winners: Laila Islam (ESF Adult Learner/Participant of the Year), Paula Evans (ESF Outstanding Achiever of the Year), and Mohammed Rahi (ESF Progression onto an Apprenticeship).
City Gateway runs training courses for young people and women aimed at progressing them into employment by working in partnership with a wide range of corporate and community partners. The three award winners, all from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, have each benefited from City Gateway apprenticeships and training that has either helped them into permanent employment, or brought them closer to achieving it. Their stories demonstrate positive journeys which have brought benefits to them as individuals, as well as to their families and communities. Three hundred young people come through City Gateway each year.
Eddie Stride, CEO at City Gateway said of the award winners’ successes, "The achievement of our award winners is incredibly inspiring. The awards recognise both their outstanding achievements and the role they play as positive examples in their communities and peer groups. Big congratulations are in order for all of them."
Paula Evans – Outstanding Achiever of the Year 2011
At 17 Paula has had to overcome problems that are common to many young people who City Gateway works with in Tower Hamlets: exclusion from mainstream education, a lack of positive role models and low educational achievement.
Paula came from a family lacking in positive role models holding down jobs and had been out of mainstream education since the age of 11. When Paula arrived at City Gateway from a local pupil referral unit with 4 GCSEs (A* to C) and behavioural problems she had little hope of getting a job and her progression through City Gateway's training did not look certain.
However with the support of City Gateway's training, and a personal dedication to build a positive future, Paula completed her level 2 apprenticeship and, along with City Gateway's Corporate Relations and Employment Team, secured a placement with Canary Wharf Group in Human Resources. Her apprenticeship contract was extended before it was turned into a full time contract in Autumn 2011.
Paula's take on the change in her life is as follows: "At times I was not keen to continue and did not see the point in staying with education. However City Gateway supported me through this and I continued with the course before being accepted onto their IT apprenticeship. I was then offered the chance to interview for a placement with Canary Wharf Group for a job in their personnel department which I was successful in getting." Paula is now looking to go on to study HR at college and university; a future in management has become her new goal. She went on to say, "It is unbelievable that despite my background I am in the position I am and without City Gateway's support this would not have been the case."
Laila Islam – Adult Learner/Participant of the Year 2011
In 1994 Laila left Bangladesh to embark on a new life with her husband in England, but her lack of English left her often isolated and restricted. In the last year Laila has made a great success of her education at the City Gateway Women’s Project, in English, IT and Public Speaking whilst still managing to look after a family of five. Laila now works in a local school and liaises with other isolated women in the community. The ESF have awarded Laila with the London Adult Learner of the Year 2011 award in recognition of all her hard work.
Juggling being a wife and mother to five children, alongside work has been quite a challenge; but Laila has risen to it admirably. In her own words, "It was important for me to show my husband that I could manage both home and work so that he would allow me to continue my apprenticeship. I worked very hard." That determination has been evident to both other women and staff who have been inspired by her.
Mohammed Rahi – ESF Progression onto an Apprenticeship 2011
Mohammed Rahi was the victim of racially motivated attacks at school and started hanging out with the wrong crowd at home. Since training with City Gateway, he has been inspired to help other young people in similar situations, giving talks at pupil referral units and encouraging young people to value their education. The ESF have recognised Mohammed’s exceptional progress with the award for Progression onto an Apprenticeship.
Mohammed spoke of his family's pride at his achievements: "I am so pleased to have won this award. The best thing about the ESF project was my tutors who were like family to me. My mum is so proud; she’s seen a big difference and is really happy for me. I will keep progressing for my future."