Learners at Brighter Futures have taken part in a new educational workshop by Salford charity, ‘Prevent2Protect’.

The charity visited the alternative education provider last Friday, as part of their new ‘GANGForLIFE?’ initiative to promote good health, wellbeing, and life skills.

The young people took part in a fitness boxing workshop and a cooking lesson with the volunteers from Prevent2Protect – with the pizzas turning out to be a success.

Brighter Futures, located on Cobden Street, is a non-profit organization that offers practical life skills and pastoral support for young people in Salford. Learners have access to a fully functioning garage, construction site and a hair salon to perfect their skills, gain qualifications and prepare themselves for the World of Work.

 

Brighter Futures Education Centre. Copyright: Google Maps 2020

Brighter Futures isn’t the first establishment to host the sessions, with The New Broadwalk PRU and Manor Road City Learning Centre already taking part in the programme with a roaring success.

Neil Smith, 57,  Manager of Brighter Futures, sees the workshops as an opportunity for the learners to expand their knowledge and believes the skills learned will support them in the future.

“It’s built confidence in some of our learners in the weeks they’ve already been in. There’s a lot of communication skills especially in the fitness sessions”, he said.

“It’s an understanding of what they’re doing and a realization of, I can do that!”

“The cooking sessions seem to have been a huge success with the learners, It’s a basic start in life skills – its something they can take with them and work on.

They’re having a go at stuff and realize you don’t have to buy it out of a packet!”

 

With the first session turning out a huge success for the learners, Prevent2Protect hope to secure more funding to visit the centre once a week during the term, and are even considering school holiday sessions to keep the young people busy.

Daniella Nuttall (41), is a trustee at Prevent2Protect.

“We’ve been applying for funding for a number of months since we started in April and luckily we have been funded by the national lottery as part of the Covid-19 response.”, she said.

“The kids are asking us to come back, that’s everything for us, for them to engage with us.

“Not only is there health benefits to the sessions, but it helps with mental health and controlled aggression as well. They’re perfect for the young people’s CV’s in the future.”

Nuttall hopes the Charity can secure more funding to continue their sessions with the young people at Brighter Futures as well as other local education centres.

For more information on Prevent2Protect’s work or to get, go to their website .

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