‘People’ champions who teach life-skills to disadvantaged youngsters have been given a helping hand from London City Airport.
The Beckton vocational centre is one of two of Newham’s not-for-profit organisations getting a slice from the airport’s annual Community Fund.
The centre in Hillcroft Road gives ‘hands on’ practical learning such as fixing cars or helps learners get qualifications for jobs or to move into further education.
It provides support to the under-25s from poor backgrounds and those struggling with mainstream schools.
The other charity is Deafroots in Forest Gate that helps deaf and hard-of-hearing people, mainly from minority ethnic groups, by improving access to employment, education and community life.
The airport is giving £3,000 hand-outs to 13 charities and not-for-profit organisations in the four neighbouring east London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest, as well as Greenwich and Southwark.
“We have been deeply rooted in east London since the airport opened in 1987,” London City’s ‘people officer’ Michael Spiers explained.
“Our fund continues making a real difference to our local communities. The charities and organisations we’re supporting this year are doing important work to strengthen these communities, to improve wellbeing and create opportunities for people.”
Grants from the fund that was set up six years ago are available for organisations that can show their ability to make positive change in the communities surrounding the airport. Applications can be made twice a year to be considered by the fund’s trustees. London City Airport has dished out £39m so far from its Community Chest since 2019.
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