Community project scoops national award

15 July 2018

Congratulations to our Build Yourself project which has scooped a national award!

Build Yourself is a community project which is run by Fresh Visions, the charity hosted and supported by us.

The project aims to break the cycle of unemployment among socially isolated young people in areas of high deprivation in Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne.

Participants learn DIY skills, such as wallpapering and tiling, and then apply these to community venues in need of a revamp in the Sussex area.

IMAGE: Our Build Yourself team at the TPAS award ceremony

IMAGE: Our Build Yourself team at the TPAS award ceremony

So far, it’s helped 161 people aged 18-24 and nearly half of those have progressed into employment.

The project won the Excellence in Employment Skills & Training award at the TPAS National Final in Warwickshire on Thursday 12 July.

This award recognises the young people who have taken part in the project. Many have used the project to help turn their lives around – building real skills, and giving their time and effort to help the local community.

TPAS are England’s leading tenant engagement experts, bringing landlords, tenants and contractors together to find solutions to improve services, save money and bring lasting change to communities.

The annual TPAS Awards "showcases the compelling and inspirational success stories of tenants, landlords and contractors working together across the communities of England".

The most recent Build Yourself project completed at the Bexhill Boxing Club, in De La Warr Parade.

The current group of volunteers focussed on parts of the club in desperate need of repair, including the complete redecoration of three areas – the bag room, communal area and toilet area.

* Here at Optivo we have a dedicated employment team who offer one to one support, advice and guidance. We can provide you with opportunities to find a job, as well as training and the chance to learn new skills. Find out more here.