New South London Employment Academy

Building work has begun on the flagship Thames Reach Employment Academy which will help Southwark and Lambeth residents, including formerly homeless people, find work.

The building under development at 29 Peckham Road was originally built in 1904 and used until recently as offices by Southwark Council. The Employment Academy will provide support and training for the long-term unemployed to help them develop the skills and confidence to find jobs. It aims to develop a reputation for being a rich source of competent, well trained employees and to have strong links with a range of key employers across the capital.

The contractor, Lakehouse, who are undertaking the refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed building, has allocated ten work placements to local unemployed people. Other opportunities to work at the Employment Academy when it becomes operational will be publicised closer to opening, due to take place in summer 2012.

An open day will take place on August 9th for local residents where they can hear more about the Employment Academy and the range of services proposed and give their own views on how it can contribute to the local neighbourhood. The Employment Academy will provide a range of community facilities such as a café, an events room and meeting rooms for local people.

The project is funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and is a cross-borough initiative supported by Southwark and Lambeth councils as well as by the London Mayor’s Office.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

"Central to my commitment to end rough sleeping in the capital is the ambition to see people rebuild their lives away from the streets. The Employment Academy will provide a great opportunity to bring together the services and support required to unlock the potential of former rough sleepers to help them find work and a better future."

Jeremy Swain, Thames Reach Chief Executive, said:

“The Employment Academy will be a fantastic community resource and we intend that it becomes renowned as the place to go in order to develop the skills and confidence needed to find, and keep, a job. There are some wonderful spaces within the building which people living locally will be able to use for meetings and events. We believe that, over time, many thousands of people will find work through making use of the Employment Academy.

Jackie Jacob, the HCA’s London Director, said:

“I’m delighted that the HCA, through the Places of Change Programme, is helping to bring this historic building back to life. We fund services that help bring about change in the lives of some of society’s most disadvantaged, and we look forward to the rebirth of this building as a valuable asset for the local community.”

Councillor Dora Dixon Foyle, cabinet member for health and adult social care at Southwark council, said:

"We are delighted to be supporting the Employment Academy which will bring real improvements to the lives of vulnerable people in Southwark and help them back into work or training. Once up and running the project will deliver many community facilities to local people in the borough and we are particularly pleased that it will mean the ongoing use of a key public building at 29 Peckham Road.

"This project is also an excellent example of partnership working between ourselves and Lambeth council, the London Mayor's Office, local businesses as well as the voluntary and community sector, which underlines our commitment to make the best use of resources in these tough economic times."

Councillor Sally Prentice, deputy cabinet member for employment and enterprise at Lambeth Council, said:

“This project will provide a useful and valuable resource that will bring positive benefits for local people, and will enable those who need help to get their lives back on track.”

Ends
 

For more media information contact Thames Reach Communications Manager, Mike Nicholas, on 07816 113420 or 020 7702 5646 / mike.nicholas@thamesreach.org.uk  or Judith Hewitt, HCA London Communications Manager on 020 7633 3484 / judith.hewitt@hca.gsx.gov.uk
 
Notes to editors

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England.  Our vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas. 

Thames Reach is one of the UK’s leading homelessness charities. Its vision is to end street homelessness and its mission is to provide decent homes, encourage supportive relationships and help people lead fulfilling lives. Thames Reach runs a range of services in London including street outreach services and a variety of supported housing projects, as well as schemes which prevent homelessness and help people develop new skills, re-engage with family and friends, and get back into work. Thames Reach works closely with local communities to ensure that it contributes to improving neighbourhoods and meeting local need. Last year the charity helped 8,908 people. For more information visit the website.