NLTG and Hyndburn Food Pantry launch scheme to get more people into work and apprenticeships

Accrington-based training provider North Lancs Training Group (NLTG) has launched an exciting new partnership with Hyndburn Food Pantry on Accrington’s high street, aimed at helping people to change their lives across the borough, by getting them work, interview and apprenticeship ready.

The scheme will see people who use the food bank on Broadway, given the opportunity to make use of the training facilities provided by NLTG.

Courses provided by NLTG include IT, Employability Skills, Hospitality, Furniture Manufacturing, Retail/Customer Service, Food Safety, Maths and English, with the opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised qualification. One of the best courses currently available is a Food Hygiene course, which helps people to get into work.

The duration of the courses range from 1 day up to 20 days and include free lunch, as well as free tea and coffee throughout the day, whilst benefits can still be claimed.

Hyndburn Food Pantry, which is run by volunteers, helps those in need, offering them the chance to choose their own food, rather than providing pre-packed parcels. Visitors to the food bank will also now get the opportunity to join one of the many courses provided by NLTG at their Old Bakery Centre on Grange Lane.

Gareth Lindsay, managing director of NLTG, commented: “We are thrilled to be spearheading this flagship pilot scheme and we can’t wait to see the benefits it will bring to our local community.

“Hyndburn Food Pantry provide a wonderful service in Accrington and by partnering together, we believe we can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Stacy Walsh, organiser at Hyndburn Food Pantry, added: “This is an extremely exciting time for us here at Hyndburn Food Pantry. We can’t thank Gareth and his team at NLTG enough for their support and for bringing this wonderful initiative to life.

“This partnership will help to get more people work and interview ready, as well as into Apprenticeships. We are extremely proud of the work we do here in the centre of Accrington but this new collaboration with NLTG will provide life-changing opportunities for so many people in our borough.”

More information about NLTG’s courses can be found on their website https://www.nltg.co.uk/adult-learners/courses-for-the-unemployed/