Wrexham Glyndwr University Supports Moneypenny Foundation For Third Year

The latest ‘graduates’ of a pioneering initiative to help young women into employment have been celebrating their successful completion of a six month traineeship. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Six young women from Wrexham have gone from being unemployed with few prospects to looking forward to a brighter future, thanks to the Moneypenny Foundation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The trainees were chosen from candidates proposed by a number of Wrexham agencies, and have undergone the traineeship which included activities such as work experience, coaching, mentoring, as well as life and work skills and experiences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They spent three weeks with a variety of local employers including: Wrexham Glyndwr University, Ramada Plaza, Pendine Park, TIMco, Sprouts Nursery, Keycom, The Sun Trevor, as well as time spent in Moneypenny’s HR and hospitality departments. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Foundation was launched in 2014 by Moneypenny’s co-founder Rachel Clacher to give unemployed young people new opportunities in life and work. As well as paid work experience in a variety of employment sectors across Wrexham, the Foundation also comprises life coaching, mentoring and the opportunity to gain a host of skills while trying out new activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Candidates for the Foundation are chosen in partnership with a range of agencies working in Wrexham with the aim of giving each trainee the support they need to get their lives on track. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s a very proud moment when these extraordinary young women realise all they have achieved over the past six months,” said Rachel. “The graduation ceremony is the perfect event for them to take on board their accomplishments through their sheer hard work and willingness to try new things – many they would never have thought of doing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Now in its third year, we are immensely pleased to see another group of young women turn their lives around and begin their next chapters with greater confidence.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rachel added: “Many of the previous Foundation trainees have gone on to full-time employment or further education, are able to pay their own way, and are happier, motivated people. We absolutely can’t wait to see all that this year’s graduates will go on to achieve. We honestly couldn’t be prouder of them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Along the way over the six months, the trainees enjoyed experiences ranging from Outward Bound activities, skiing, bee keeping, self defense, to meeting the Mayor of Wrexham and CEO of Wrexham Council. They also brushed up on essential numeracy skills and learnt about nutrition, women’s health, first aid and much more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diane Aplin, Moneypenny Foundation Director, added: “The whole Foundation programme wouldn’t be possible without the support and dedication of our partner businesses in Wrexham for teaching our trainees about the importance of employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Also for the mentors and coaches who take the time to listen and guide the trainees, and the young women themselves for their willingness to take the first steps on a new life journey. We have every belief that they will go on to achieve the most wonderful things – and they thoroughly deserve it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Foundation will be starting again in April 2017 and Rachel and Diane now hope to roll out the Foundation model to other large employers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​