Yesterday (Monday 16th December) New College Durham hosted a presentation evening to mark the success of apprentice applications to a charitable trust.
Founded in 1628, The Henry Smith Charity is an independent grant making trust working to combat disadvantage and meet the challenges and opportunities facing people in need throughout the UK. Today, almost four centuries after it was first established, the charity is one of the largest grant-making charities in Britain: distributing £46.4 million in 2023 alone.
Each year the charity aims to provide apprentices who live within a certain catchment area within Durham, a grant, to be used to purchase tools, equipment, and personal protective equipment.
Natasha Francis Director of Apprenticeships and Partnerships at New College Durham said,
“In preparation for the charity’s board meeting, we invited several apprentices who met the strict residency criteria to submit applications to be considered by the trustees. As a result, 9 applications were submitted, and I’m delighted to say that everyone was successful.”
The successful apprentices were.
· Henry Greaves, Lucas Dobson – Motor Vehicle
· Luke Dawson – Carpentry & Joinery
· Jason Richardson, Jake Richardson, Rhys Nicholson - Furniture Manufacturing
· Caine Blakeley – Plumbing and Heating
· Olivia Cara, Ryan Lannon - Hair Professional
Representatives from the charity were there to show support to the apprentices as they received certificates and their grant awards presented by the Mayor of Durham Cllr. Liz Brown.
Ian Mackenzie from The Henry Smith Charity expressed his delight in supporting local apprentices, saying: "The charity is once again thrilled to support local apprentices at the start of their careers here in Durham. Our charity has supported young people at the beginning of their careers since as long ago as the 17th century. This makes the current recipients a welcome part of almost 400 years of history. We wish the new apprentices every success in their future careers."
Natasha added: “This is the 14th year The Henry Smith Charity has supported our apprenticeship programme. Their generosity continues to have a tangible impact on the lives of our apprentices, providing them with the tools and equipment to excel in their chosen professions. These grants will undoubtedly help them build the foundations for prosperous careers."