The 3 week 'Get Into Leisure' programme was ran in conjunction with the Kings Trust (formerly Princes Trust). The programme has recently been run in Belfast, London and Manchester, with Newcastle/Gateshead being the final ones to deliver. 

The Kings Trust programmes are designed to give young people skills help young people (aged 16–30) start careers in leisure and hospitality through free, hands-on training, workshops, and direct connections to employers with live vacancies. The programs focus on building skills for roles like lifeguards, fitness instructors, and assistants, often including qualifications in health, safety, and customer service

We had 13 successful young people take on placements across 7 centres across Newcastle and Gateshead.  Young people took on various roles including Concierge, General assistants and 3 successfully passed their Pool Lifeguard Qualification.  On Thursday 5th march we held a celebration event for those who completed the 3-week programme. 

Friends and Family joined and representatives from each centre presented the young people with a certificate and spoke about their successes over the 3 weeks.   As a result of the programme several of the young people were offered roles working for GLL, some in permanent and some in flexible roles.

Alison Westworth, Partnership Manager for Newcastle found the programme extremely rewarding to be a part of "the 3 week programme really gave the young people chance to feel a real part of the leisure centre teams. 

It has been a pleasure to see the impact these ooprtunties have had on the young people and for some of them I am thrilled to see us offer further employement."

The programme was a great success and we look forward to working with the King's Trust in future.