EMR's Community Fund helps young people learn welding skills

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has funded a scheme which provided a group of young people from Derby a chance to learn engineering skills.  

Through its Community Fund, EMR supported the pupils from the Derwent area in the city to receive hands-on experience of fabrication and welding in a real workshop environment - giving them the skills that employers are looking for. 

The young people, aged 11 to 16, took part in the four-week scheme run by Engineered Learning - an organisation that specialises in educating vulnerable young people. 

During the scheme, the group developed a range of skills, including learning how to use handheld equipment, such as drills, plasma and grinding tools. They also learnt how to weld and fabricate, and each day they were provided with healthy food and refreshments.

Youth workers were also on hand to run workshops on a variety of issues that affect young people, such as internet safety, relationships and healthy eating.

As part of the project, the participants also had the opportunity to learn how to maintain their own bicycles.

Kaye Robinson, Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: "Engineered Learning offer young people experiences and opportunities that really make a difference to them and their communities.

"They are exactly the type of organisation the Community Fund was designed for, and we were proud to support the scheme."

Dan Read, Managing Director of Engineered Learning, said: "This project helped to raise the aspirations of some of our most vulnerable young people. I think it’s fair to say that the social and economic impact of this project will be experienced by the local community at least for the foreseeable future. Our huge thanks go to our partners for helping to make this massive difference to the lives of our young people."

Community Fund - apply now!

The fund, which is the first of its kind for the railway industry in the East Midlands, is available to community rail partnerships, station adoption groups, charities, community interest companies, schools, youth organisations and sports clubs.

To qualify the group or organisation must operate within 15km of a EMR station and successfully meet the requirements of funding set out by EMR.

For more information about the fund, including how to apply for funding please visit: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/community-fund