The Mayor of Southwark, councillor Althea Smith, visited the Thames Reach Employment Academy last week to look at
the progress of the restoration work on the Edwardian building which will house
this facility for long-term unemployed Londoners and people who have
experienced homelessness.
The £6.5m project,
which will open in the autumn, is set to help thousands of people get the
training they need to find work and independence.
It will
provide support and training to help people find work in the fields of
catering, social care, security, retail and construction.
Approximately
three quarters of the building work on the Grade II listed building covering
20,000 square feet has now been completed.
The Mayor
of Southwark, councillor Althea Smith, said: “I am delighted to
see the progress on restoring this historic building to its former glory.
Southwark Council is committed to enhancing the life chances of all our
communities and once completed, this facility will become a beacon of
excellence in delivering essential training to help those seeking employment
and facing hardship through homelessness.”
Thames
Reach’s director of south London services, Bill Tidnam, said: “It’s great that
we’ve been able to restore this beautiful building and return it to its original
function as a resource for the community. The building is really taking shape
now and we’re looking forward to welcoming our neighbours into the Thames Reach
Employment Academy when it’s finished.”
Find out more about the Employment Academy
