Inspire Young People Help out Local People in need this Christmas

Young people from Inspire Learning and Inspire Youth Arts have been busy raising funds for Sherwood Forest Foodbank and gathering warm clothing and food packs for the homeless in Mansfield and Sutton in Ashfield.

With the help of their tutors Tracy Leaper and David Wilkinson, Inspire Learning’s Study Programme learners from Myplace Mansfield and Eastbourne House (Sutton in Ashfield), have been busy organising some warm clothing, food and toiletry packs for homeless people on the streets, and in  shelters of their local area.

Inspire Learning offers study programmes for young people aged 16-24 in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and the Education Skills Funding Agency at nine dedicated centres countywide, where students study a range of recognised qualifications, along with maths and English (Functional Skills and/or GCSE). Community engagement is also an important part of the programme.

During their annual celebration events on 18 and 19 of December, learners will come together to create and hand over the packs to homeless people on the streets of Sutton in Ashfield and Mansfield, as well as visiting local homeless shelters.

Prior to the event, learners and staff have been raising funds through bake sales and designing posters to raise awareness. Collection points have been set up at Myplace Mansfield, Eastbourne House and Inspire HQ for Inspire staff and members of the public to donate warm clothing.  The team has been extremely grateful for the support they have received from wider Inspire.

Simon Cook, Study Programme Manager at Inspire Learning said, “Inspire Learning Study Programmes prepare young people not only for the world of work and further education, but for life. The organisation as a whole exists to educate and enrich communities throughout the county, and engaging our young people in issues such as homelessness and poverty is a big part of that.

“I am thrilled, but not surprised, that we’ve had such a good response from our students, and this is just another reason why I and all of our staff are proud to work with them. I would also like to say a big thank you to David Wilkinson, one of our Learning Support Assistants, for providing the enthusiasm to initiate this project.”

Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council Communities and Place Committee, Councillor John Cottee said: “It’s heartening, especially at this time of year, to see young people wanting to make a positive difference to their local community.” 

Across Inspire, the youth arts team has also been busy raising funds to help those in need locally. Instead of paying for tickets at their recent MyFest performances for young artists, the audience was asked to donate money at the end of the show raising an amazing £530. The money will be handed over to the Sherwood Forest Foodbank in Mansfield which, as part of the Trussell Trust, works to help local people in crisis.

The Inspire Youth Arts team works with young people who often rely on supported housing and foodbanks making this a cause close to the team’s hearts, and with the Sherwood Forest Foodbank relying heavily on public donations (over 90% of the food they distribute), the team has been overwhelmed by the generosity of their audiences.

The Sherwood Forest Food bank is located at the Stables Centre, 12 Church Street in Mansfield Woodhouse and can accept donations at select times on Mondays and Thursdays - for more information check out the website at www.sherwoodforest.foodbank.org.uk

The Inspire Youth Arts team is based at the Old Library on Leeming Street, Mansfield and offers exciting opportunities for young people to take part in arts projects and programmes in music, dance and digital. Full details can be found here: www.inspireculture.org.uk/iya

More information about study programmes and traineeships with Inspire Learning in your area can be found by clicking here or by calling 01623 677 200.