We’re celebrating at the Sycamore Trust today following last night’s Barking & Dagenham Chamber of Commerce business awards. We were nominated in two categories and scooped the award for Community Involvement, thanks to our work on the SPACE Project, which helps young adults with ASD into employment.
In a memorable evening, hosted by Dagenham & Redbridge FC, we’d been nominated in the Business & Social Responsibility Category, but missed out to A13 Steel, who collected three awards on the night, but we were successful in the award for Community Involvement, sponsored by Shearforce Security.
There was plenty of tension in the room as the envelope was opened and the result was announced, and it completed a fabulous evening for the Trust, as we also benefitted from a table collection that generated a donation of over £600, which shows just what a wonderful business community we have in Barking & Dagenham.
The award was collected by Sycamore CEO Chris Gillbanks and SPACE Project Manager Nikki Murphy who were then whisked off to a side room to be interviewed by another of the event sponsors, Time FM 107.5.
Sycamore CEO Chris Gillbanks said, “we’re delighted to win this award as it will help raise awareness of autism and raise the profile of the Trust and the SPACE Project in the local community.” Project manager Nikki Murphy echoed those comments. She said “what we really need now are jobs. We have a number of very talented and capable young people ready for work, so if there are any local firms out there with a vacancy, please get in touch.”
The SPACE Project prepares young people with ASD into work, with a series of individual modules, starting with presentation, to travel training to interview technique and it also supports both the candidate and the employer once the young person has started work. At present, only 16% of autistic people are in paid employment and the SPACE Project is working to raise that figure. We’re extremely fortunate to benefit from the help and support of the Glyn Hopkin Charitable Foundation, without who, the programme would not be possible. On hearing the news, Foundation Chairman Glyn Hopkin said, “we would like to congratulate all at the Sycamore Trust for receiving this prestigious award - it is very well deserved. The Trust carries out vital work in very tough circumstances and I am sure it will go from strength to strength. We are delighted to be involved with the Sycamore Trust through the SPACE Project.”