Family construction company Robert Woodhead Ltd and ex-Forces educational charity SkillForce are celebrating the start of a charitable partnership supporting education and schools projects across Nottinghamshire.

SkillForce works primarily with ex-Forces personnel who are trained and employed as instructors, engaging with hard-to-reach young people to help them prepare for their next steps in education, work or training.

The instructors often come from similar backgrounds to the young people they are supporting and are able to empathise with them and become positive role models.

The programme uses activity-based learning to engage to develop young people and help them find a way to achieve and succeed.
Employees from Woodhead chose SkillForce as its charity for 2015 from a shortlist of worthwhile organisations and have already begun organising fundraising activities.

Teams of colleagues are training for the Big Fun Run 5k at Colwick Country Park in August and the Nottingham Robin Hood Half Marathon in September.

David Woodhead, managing mirector at Woodhead, said; “It’s important to us at Woodhead that we support worthwhile causes whenever possible.

“I’m delighted our staff chose SkillForce to work with because both organisations are committed to supporting education and to developing skills and talent in young people.”

Newly-appointed chief executive of SkillForce, Ben Slade, said: “It’s brilliant that Woodhead’s employees have chosen SkillForce to be their charity for 2015.”

Both organisations are based at Edwinstowe and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer said: “I appreciate the value of the work that SkillForce undertakes with young people. It’s great to see a local business like Woodhead committing their time and resources to support such a worthwhile charity.”

Pictured, back, are Tony Robinson, Fay Paterson and Tom Woodhead, of Robert Woodhead Ltd, and Mark Spencer. Front, Janet Ford and Ben Slade, of SkillForce.