A North East construction firm has launched an initiative to help young people in crisis in North Tyneside.
The Owen Pugh Group, a full-service civil engineering firm headquartered in Dudley, has set up a food bank to encourage staff to donate non-perishable food items, fresh produce and essential household goods which will be distributed by North Shields based charity, the Phoenix Detached Youth Project (PDYP), to young people across the Chirton and Riverside wards of North Tyneside affected by food poverty.
Owen Pugh employs 370 staff across five sites in the North East, all of which have been contacted to give them details and ask them to take part in the scheme. The weekly donations, which will be collected at points at Owen Pugh’s offices and remote sites, will be packaged by PDYP according to individual needs to will ensure individuals and households obtain healthy, nutritious food and other essential products such as baby milk, nappies and pet food.
Jan Elliott, training development and CSR manager at Owen Pugh, who was instrumental in launching the initiative, said: “The food bank has been set up to help those in crisis who cannot otherwise get a meal. If we can help young people in the local area with these basic needs they will have a better chance of getting their lives on track and realising their ambitions.
“I’ve been delighted by the support from staff to-date and hope that many more will pledge to purchase a couple of essential items as part of their food shop each week, as this commitment will help to tackle the food poverty that many people don’t realise exists on our doorstep.”
The project, which will help a number of young people, including young parents, is part of a wider programme of support provided by Owen Pugh to PDYP, which aims to engage young people from North Tyneside to develop their ideas, support their life choices and education and to help them into work and training.
Mike Burgess, project manager at PDYP, said: “We continue to be amazed by the dedication and caring attitude shown by all of the team at Owen Pugh. The food donations will provide valuable help to local people, however the company’s commitment to helping local young people into training and work has also been hugely beneficial.”
The Food Bank will also link to a follow on programme providing money management support and encouraging young people grow their own food locally. PDYP will work in partnership with Meadow Well Connected, another local charity, to deliver the scheme. Young people will be encouraged to attend the Money Matters programme to gain better skills in money choices and management and will gain access to use a local allotment to grow their own food.
The Owen Pugh Group comprises five trading companies operating in the civil engineering industry, undertaking earthmoving and demolition, drainage and groundworks, plant-hire and haulage, quarrying, inert waste and drain cleaning, and CCTV surveys. The group is headquartered in Dudley near Cramlington, with other bases in Blaydon, Sunderland and Stockton-on-Tees, as well as Marsden Quarry.
To find out more about the Owen Pugh Group visit www.owenpugh.com.
