Academi Adra up for housing industry gong
Adra housing association is celebrating after its skills and employment initiative was shortlisted for a prestigious tenant participation award.
The National TPAS Cymru Good Practice Awards 2023 have been set up to share, recognise and celebrate the fantastic work carried out by housing organisations and tenants in communities. Academi Adra has been shortlisted in the resident Support/ Advice Programme category.
Launched in February 2021, Academi Adra brings together the range of opportunities we can provide through Adra and its partners to help tenants, and those living within communities, to develop their skills and find employment. Working with partners, Academi Adra offers work experience, work placements, apprenticeships, traineeships, volunteering and much more.
It has successfully worked in partnership with more than 20 external organisations and contractors to date. The partnership consists of Adra, Procure Plus, Gwaith Gwynedd, JobCentre Plus, Welsh Contact Centre Forum, Richmond Bright, Citizens Advice, North Wales Training, Grwp Llandrillo Menai., GISDA, DU Construction Ltd, WF Clayton & Co Ltd, Wynne Construction, NWRC, Kickstart, Welsh Government, HM Prison & Probation Service, Careers Wales, Mon CF, GH James Cyf and Williams Homes (Bala). A number of courses have been held, including 6 ‘Construction Pathway’ courses and a customer service course with the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and Welsh Government.
To date:
- 91 individuals have been supported to gain training and/or work experiences
- 70 have gained access to training
- 30 supported with apprenticeships
- 12 have been supported into jobs with Adra or its contractors
- 8 have gained paid work experience
- 3 individuals, two of which are Adra tenants, have been offered full time jobs in Adra’s Customer Services team following training through the Academi.
Academi Adra is about providing an opportunity for all, and breaking down barriers to ensure that everyone can succeed. A campaign recently took place to encourage more young women to join the construction and housing industry. Over 65 girls from Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Penygroes had a taste of working in the field of construction as part of an event called ‘Not Just for Boys’. Adra led this event together with Chwarae Teg, a charity that inspires, leads and implements gender equality in Wales.
Sion Hughes, Adra’s Assistant Director, Customers and Communities said: “We’re delighted that the hard work going on as part of Academi Adra has been recognised and shortlisted for this prestigious award. We have made a commitment to support our tenants and communities to thrive, providing opportunities for employment locally and helping our tenants to maximise their household incomes in economically challenging times.
“There are great examples of where individuals have joined our programme and have found employment as a direct result. This is great to hear and reaffirms the purpose of Academi Adra – to provide opportunities for people to enhance their skills and open up doors for employment in the future”.