We held a very successful and well attended Careers Fayre on Friday 27th January 2023 and hope to run another one in the future.

The response to our Careers Event was overwhelming with over one hundred young people attending on the day. Designed specifically for disabled children, young people and their families, the aims of this event were to inspire our work experience participants and young people to further develop their understanding and experience of the world of work. Also to enable them to discover how to gain employability skills, raise their own aspirations and to contribute to developing confidence in preparing for the transition from leaving school or sixth form into gaining employment.

Exhibitors who participated in the event, provided information relating to their business or facility, career related skills development, volunteering & work experience opportunities. They offered advice such as –what makes a suitable candidate, CV advice and templates, details of types of positions available as well as providing freebies and information for the young people to take away with them on the day.

Young people with a special educational need or disability are already vulnerable and at risk of becoming NEET (not in education or training). Effective careers advice is vital for students with SEND. Grace House would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated and made an event such as this possible for our young people.

Feedback from attendees:

Adrienne Mason EHCP Officer at Springboard “Myself and Robbie (Springboard SEN Team Leader) thoroughly enjoyed the event. We spoke to some fantastic potential students who are interested in coming to Springboard when they leave school and also made some great links with other organisations who we are looking forward to working with. It was a truly lovely event.  Well done for putting this on and bring everyone together.“

Young Attendee commented “This morning has been immense”.

Exhibitors

Job Centre

Support, training and advice on finding your next opportunity – JobHelp

Sunderland Care and Support 

Springboard North East | Courses, Training and Apprenticeships 

Diego’s Joint

Media Savvy CIC

Riverside Marketing Solutions | Marketing Made Easy

Together For Children – Together for Children

Northern Rights | Instilling Confidence, Inspiring Success

Project Choice – Supported Internships | Health Education England

Gentoo

Suitability Supporting gentlemen with interview wear

Youth Employment Service North East – YP Wellbeing

Homegrown

Sunshine Co-operative

Useful Career related website links

National Autistic Society

Hearing Impaired Work RNID

Ambitious about Autism Employment | Ambitious about Autism

Employment Autism 

Vision Impaired Equality and employment | RNIB

Youth Employment UK

Evenbreak 

Health Passports Adjustment

Access to Work

Disability Confident Scheme

Sunderland Information Point

The National Careers Service:

Careers advice – job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

Education advice if you have special educational needs or a disability | National Careers Service

Job support if you have special educational needs or a disability | National Careers Service

 

We are delighted that Helen Huitson from Body Shop at Home has chosen to support Grace House this year by donating 20% of sales back to us. If you are looking for gifts for loved ones or a treat for yourself you can now shop guilt free knowing a donation is coming to us to help us enrich the lives of disabled children, young people and their families.

Helen can also help with fundraising so if you would like to host a pamper party for colleagues or friends please get in touch.

Shop here!

 

 

Gillespie Recruitment, founded in 2021 by Laura Gillespie, are celebrating their 2^nd year in business by supporting local charity Grace House.

Staff voted for who they would like to fundraise for over the year with Grace House being the chosen charity. Planning started with the team meeting to discuss events and fundraisers before deciding on a target of £5,000!

Laura Gillespie, Director of Gillespie Recruitment said “ As a member of the Network for Good Group at Grace House, I am delighted that the team here at Gillespie Recruitment have chosen Grace House as our Charity of the Year! Having worked for the charity in the past within the fundraising department I know first hand how vital local business support is to the Grace House. We look forward to raising as much money as possible!

Laura Jane Forbes, Corporate Fundraiser at Grace House said” We are delighted Gillespie Recruitment have chosen to support Grace House. The support of the local business community is incredibly Important to us, and we are looking forward to working together. The team are all 100% on board and determined to hit their target, which would make a huge difference to the families we support here. Keep an eye out for some exciting events from Gillespie Recruitment soon!”

 

We are delighted to announce that WorkerBee, founded by Andrea Holman in 2021, have chosen Grace House as their Charity of the Year for 2023.

WorkerBee have supported Grace House for several years by taking part and sponsoring events and to celebrate their 20^th anniversary in 2023 they have pledged to raise £1,000 throughout the year.

Founder Andrea Holman said “It is the right thing to do! Choosing Grace House as WorkerBee’s Charity of the Year has been something I have wanted to do for a while, and it is their 20^th anniversary year so what better time.

Once I had been to my first Grace House event, I wanted to help. When you see how much the children and young people love being there it just shows how happy they are. The staff at Grace House help build the kids confidence amongst all the work they do and it is wonderful to witness. Well Done to everyone involved!

This year I have few things planned to raise money including a garden party, GNR (my 6^th and swan song) and the obvious Race for Grace.

They put so much effort into supporting families so why can’t we put the same effort in supporting Grace House to build on Kathy Secker’s dream. With your support I hope to surpass the £1000 and hit £2000.

https://ghne.enthuse.com/pf/workerbee-125e1 “

Laura Jane Forbes, Corporate Fundraiser at Grace House said “We have been overwhelmed by the support Grace House receives from small businesses like WorkerBee. It only goes to show if you have the passion and energy for something you can achieve it and Andrea and WorkerBee have these in abundance. We are really excited to be working together in a very special year for Grace House and can’t wait to see their ambitious plans come to fruition.”

 

If you would like to support Grace House in their anniversary year please contact Corporate Fundraiser Laura Jane Forbes, on [email protected] or call 0191 435 2085

 

Drive away a new car in 2023!

We are delighted to announce that once again we are part of the Great Christmas Raffle and we are offering you the chance to win a fabulous 72 Reg VW Polo in Ascot Grey thanks to Charity Escapes and Vertu Motors plc

Tickets are on sale now and all you have to do is click on the link below! The lucky winner will be announced in January, wouldn’t that be a great start to 2023?

 

Enter Now!

Grace House, are inviting the North East business community to come together. They will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses at our inaugural Expo for Good.

Expo for Good will run on 20th October at Rainton Arena and funds raised will provide much-needed support to families throughout the region.

The event is poised to bring together over 50 exhibiting businesses. There will be a fantastic line up of guest speakers. All funds from the event will be given directly to the charity.

Supporters will also have the opportunity to promote their business in the Expo for Good magazine. This will be distributed to every exhibitor and delegate on the day.

Corporate Fundraiser, Laura Forbes commented:

“With the launch last year of our networking group, Network for Good, the expo seemed like a great extension to this.  The North East is an extremely generous area and they love to support a local cause.

Covid has made it more difficult recently to fundraise. Giving businesses a chance to showcase their products or services while helping out a local charity at the same time seemed to be the perfect solution.”

By booking a stand at the Expo for Good, your investment could pay for 6 weeks of youth group sessions. This would bring children together in order to improve their social skills while learning valuable life lessons. Alternatively music therapy sessions, which allow children to communicate and engage with their family.

We will be releasing more information and speakers leading up to the event. We are looking forward to a brilliant day celebrating local business combining with the charity sector.

For more information on the Expo for Good or you would like to discuss how to support Grace House, please contact Laura Forbes on 0191 435 2085 or email [email protected]

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