Airports

London City Helpers programme launched to help local communities

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London City Airport has renewed its commitment to supporting its local communities in East London with the launch of the London City Helpers programme.

This new programme, delivered in partnership with the East London Business Alliance (ELBA) and with support from other community partners, will see the airport deliver bespoke engagement activities in the community to tackle unemployment and address inequality, raise the aspiration of disadvantaged young people and support the mental health and wellbeing of residents in Newham and across East London.

A new bespoke mentoring scheme will also be launched to raise young people’s aspirations and support their mental health and wellbeing.

In partnership with 15BillionEBP, volunteers from the airport will mentor Newham school students at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET) due to the impact of the pandemic, via online workshops and other engagement activities aimed at fostering resilience and motivation and breaking the cycle of deprivation and low attainment.

Robert Sinclair, London City Airport Chief Executive, said: “We have a long-established record of supporting our local communities and I am really pleased that our new London City Helpers programme has been launched to help young people, in particular, achieve their potential.

Looking ahead, we are hopeful that international travel can safely restart this summer. And when it does, just as we have in the past, we want to work with our local partners to ensure that we reflect the vibrancy and diversity of East London by ensuring that as many of the new jobs we create go to local people.”

Ian Parkes, CEO of East London Business Alliance (ELBA), said: “London City Airport is one of the most significant employers in East London and we have worked with them to support the local community over many years. We have worked to promote local employment at the airport, build employability skills of local people and to support students to get interested in and pursue science, engineering and technology careers.

“In this last COVID hit year, despite the downturn in the aviation sector, LCY has been amazing, they have continued to work with us and other local organisations to support the community through their London City Helpers programme for 2021 – helping foodbanks, giving careers insights to school students, and exploring work experience. They have also donated surplus laptops to local schools to help narrow the digital divide faced by local families.”

Glynis Webb, Community Foodbank Coordinator, RDLAC, said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to London City Airport staff for their volunteering efforts during this challenging period for our local community. Our Foodbank has seen an increase in users since the start of COVID-19 in the Royal Docks and it has been great to receive their support”.

 

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