Double celebration as Mayor of Stockton and Principal of Stockton Riverside College honour success of local disability project

Eleven people who attend a local disability employment project in Stockton were honoured with achievement and recognition awards presented by the Worshipful Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Jennie Beaumont at a ceremony held at Shaw Trust Stockton, on Wednesday 25th August 2004. The local service users had been selected to receive STAR certificates as a result of their dedication and hard work in their pursuit of employment over the past twelve months. The ceremony formed part of a larger event where twenty four Edexcel Workskills and Lifeskills certificates were presented to successful trainees by Sujinder Sangha, Principal of Stockton Riverside College. Both the Principal and the Mayor met and congratulated all the trainees and staff on their outstanding success.

 

Based on Bishopton Road, Stockton, the project is a work preparation and employment scheme combining horticultural activities and other pre-vocational training for disabled and disadvantaged people living in and around Stockton.

Councillor Beaumont said, "I am always pleased to hear about the excellent work being done by Shaw Trust in Stockton. This presentation event gives me an opportunity to meet some exceptional people who have clearly worked hard to overcome some significant barriers and achievement of these certificates marks a significant milestone in their route to future employment."

Principal of Stockton Riverside College, Sujinder Sangha added, "I am delighted to be part of an event that recognises the outstanding achievements of disabled and disadvantaged people. The results from this project are further evidence of the excellent work being carried out by the Shaw Trust and the success of each one of the twenty-eight trainees serves as an inspiration to us all."

Karen Stubbings, Shaw Trust's Area Manager concluded, "We are pleased to be welcoming both the Mayor and the Principal here today. This event presents us with an opportunity to acknowledge the determination and hard work required in reaching significant milestones in the pursuit of employment. Those receiving awards today have achieved a great deal in the last twelve months or so. Their confidence, self esteem and social skills have improved dramatically through their work with the college and I'm delighted that we are also able to recognise the value that work tasters and placements bring to people for whom, paid employment is their goal. The recipients have given their time and taken on extra responsibilities through their work opportunities, they have all shown a great deal of effort and deserve to be recognised in this way. The disabled students here today demonstrate that with the right kind of support and encouragement, they too can achieve accredited recognition for their efforts and should feel proud, as I do, of their achievements".

For more information in respect of Shaw Trust's services at Stockton, click here: http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/shaw_trust.php?catid=2

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