Middlesbrough Education Centre expands to help more young people

Nacro Education, one of the country’s largest independent training providers, has opened its new centre in Borough Road, Middlesbrough this week.

The centre which will help over 100 young people each year offers courses in construction, hair and beauty, childcare and landscape maintenance. Alongside courses to help student become work ready and retake their maths and English GCSEs. Nacro Education is open to all young people but its smaller class sizes and more tailored one-to-one support often appeal to those who have struggled with mainstream education.

Nacro Education has been running education courses in Middlesbrough for over 40 years, recently from a previous site in Marton Road. Moving to the new building means Nacro can help 25% more young people and offer them upgraded facilities, meaning they can get more hands-on experience of the trades they are training for.

The launch event on Wednesday 28 August saw people attending from all over the country to see the new facilities, including a fully functioning hair salon and construction workshop, as well as meeting some of the young people who have been supported by Nacro in Middlesbrough.

Including, Frankie, 19, who is in his second year at Nacro studying landscape maintenance. Last year Nacro helped him pass his maths and English GCSEs. He said: “I struggled at school, I didn’t get the support I needed, then lockdown happened which meant they gave me the grades they thought I’d get. So I didn’t pass. When I came to Nacro I knew it was different. They actually wanted to help. I got the support I needed, more one-to-one help. Then I was able to pass. I’m finishing my landscaping course now and will be looking for a job after that, something in landscaping, or I want to do something practical, something with my hands.”

“I got the support I needed, more one-to-one help. Then I was able to pass. I’m finishing my landscaping course now and will be looking for a job after that, something in landscaping, or I want to do something practical, something with my hands.”

The launch event was attended by Campbell Robb, Nacro’s Chief Executive. He said: “Nacro has been a proud part of the community in Middlesbrough for 40 years. This new centre represents our investment in the area and our contribution to making a real different to the area’s young people. Nacro believes that everyone deserves a chance to learn and to thrive. And that’s what we do here at Nacro Middlesbrough, give young people the chance to reach their potential.”

Speaking at the event was Nick Hardwick, Nacro’s Chair of the Board of Trustees and former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and Chair of the Parole Board. He said: “This work is special to me because I began my career in 1980 working in Nacro’s Youth Training Section. Many of the issues young people face today are the same as they were then.

“What we will do here is give young people the foundations of skills and self-worth that really do open up the possibility of a better future and the chance to be who they want to be. And giving young people that hope of a better future, an expectation they can make a better life, is not just good for them but good for the whole community of which they are part.”

William Hughes, is a new teacher at the centre, taking over the running of the construction course. He comes directly from working in the construction industry. He says: “I always knew I wanted to go into teaching eventually, to be able to pass on my knowledge. I like the idea of making a difference, to genuinely help people. That’s my motivator.” William has almost fully recruited for his new construction course. He says the new students come with a broad range of backgrounds, commenting: “some of the young people have struggled at school, faced anxiety, Nacro works really well for those students as there are smaller class sizes, there’s more one-to-one support. And then some of the guys coming just want that practical hands-on experience you get here. They come into the new workshop and they don’t want to leave. It’s a nice space to spend time in.”