Businesses urged to back Wasps’ young people initiative

LOCAL companies are being asked to support the launch of a major new initiative to help young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The HITZ programme is being delivered nationally by Premiership Rugby and aims to get youngsters back into education, vocational training and apprenticeships by building their skills.

Wasps are now launching it in Coventry.

World Cup winner Lewis Moody and Wasps winger Christian Wade joined around 60 businesses to launch HITZ at the Ricoh Arena.

Anthony O’Reilly, Wasps HITZ officer, said the local business community could help the initiative and their companies by signing up to the scheme which offers the chance of work placements, employment with training and apprenticeships.

He said: “HITZ uses the core values of discipline, respect, teamwork, enjoyment and sportsmanship to engage young people aged 16 to 19 and help them reach their potential.

“The scheme provides practical training alongside employability sessions on skills including CV writing, interview techniques, presentation skills and time keeping alongside tuition in maths, English, sports and leisure.

“The young people have great potential but not always, for a variety of reasons, the skills to help them realise it. HITZ uses a combination of training and the core values of the sport to elp enable them to play an active role in society for everyone’s benefit.”

HITZ, which is supported by Barclays, Comic Relief, Land Rover and Wooden Spoon, is based at the AT7 centre in Bell Green run by Coventry Sports Foundation, which also runs the Engage! rugby initiative that works with younger children across the city.

Briggs Equipment provides help for a neighbour

CANNOCK-based Briggs Equipment is helping a major UK charity – and one of its close neighbours – that funds specialist equipment for disabled children by recycling everything from clothes to homeware.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children provides grants for essential equipment that can relieve pain, aid mobility, assist communication and support the independence of children with disabilities and terminal illnesses.

Based in Hemlock Way, Cannock, the organisation is just half a mile away from Briggs Equipment’s headquarters in Orbital Way,

Briggs specialises in materials handling solutions and has supplied the charity’s trading division, Newlife Trading, with two Hyster four-wheel electric counterbalance forklift trucks. They will be put to work at Newlife’s 10,000 sq ft superstore, unloading bales of clothes into the warehousing area for recycling.

Newlife Trading recycles goods donated by major brands such as Next and River Island and then sells them at bargain prices through its stores. The aim is to help retailers implement their environmental and social responsibility policies while also generating funds to support the charity’s work.

Tony Roper, operations manager at Newlife Trading, said: “Revenue from our stores helps fund the work carried out by Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, so we need an efficient recycling operation to process the donations we receive and keep the stores well stocked.

“This new materials handling equipment, backed by a first class maintenance plan from Briggs, will make a big difference in our warehouse by helping to ensure a quick turnaround.”

Shakespeare Martineau donates equipment to disabled children charity

ALSO coming to the aid of Newlife is regional law firm Shakespeare Martineau, which has donated donated £5,000 to the charity and the children it is helping.
 
Henry Hogan, aged six and Courteney James, aged 17, who both have on-going conditions that affect their daily lives, have received the donation from Shakespeare Martineau to improve their quality of life. 
 
Henry Hogan has autism which impairs his speech, hearing and he also lacks a sense of danger. Such factors require Henry to have a secure place to sleep if staying away from the family home. The donation has meant that Henry now has access to a safe-space voyager which will allow him to sleep comfortably and in a protected environment while in respite care or when visiting his grandparents.
 
Courteney James suffers from Ehler-Danios Syndrome (EDS) which is a collection of inherited conditions that cause Courteney to be unable to move independently and fully reliant on a wheelchair.
 
In order to increase her independence and mobility, Courteney requires a lightweight wheelchair to prevent severe discomfort when self-propelling.
 
Ed Postlethwaite, legal director at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “It has been a pleasure to meet and support such inspirational families. “Many people in the firm have been fundraising over the course of the year, and we couldn’t be happier that we have been able to help Henry and Courteney.”
 

Scrivens focuses on support for Alzheimer’s Society

BIRMINGHAM-based Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care has raised £12,700 for its charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society, and is to continue its support in 2016.

The family firm’s network of 177 branches embraced the cause with a range of activities, from cake sales to sponsored walks, to raise funds and awareness.

More than 130 staff completed Dementia Friends sessions to gain a greater understanding of dementia and the small things that could make a difference to people in their communities affected by it.

Chairman Nicholas Georgevic said: “We have all learned a great deal and wanted to do more for Alzheimer’s Society by adopting it as our charity of the year for a further 12 months. We have lots of ideas and enthusiasm and are looking forward to building on the relationship.

“There is growing evidence of a link between hearing loss and dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and as dementia affects so many people there is an increasing need for help and care.”

Ray Nash, senior regional corporate fundraising executive for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Scrivens’ on-going support will help fund services to help support people to live well with the condition now, and fund a cure for the future.”