by faithyoung | Nov 14, 2024 | 2024, Blog
This week, and going forward up to Christmas, we are planning on doing something truly special here at Futureworks, Scarborough.
We will be upgrading our learners’ workshop creative space, where all the Futureworks magic happens!
If you are a local business, organisation or an individual, you can help make this magic happen.
We would love to be able to add some cold weather comforts, such heaters, a rug, and some blinds for the windows to the workshop space.
We’ll also be working hard with paintbrushes in hand, as there’ll be more than a lick of paint going on various surfaces and walls.
We need to dig out the overalls!
So, if any of our local businesses or organisations can assist us, please let us know.
Phone: 01723 449616
Email: info@futureworksny.co.uk
Our office address: 40 Victoria Road, Scarborough YO11 1SD, 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
By way of a quick reminder, our Gift It appeal, in which you can donate new, quality items you own but perhaps have no use for, is underway.
We’ll be incorporating the gifts we receive into the Scarborough Sparkle event at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Friday 29th, Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December 2024.
Items we would welcome include perfume, homewares, gifts, games, vouchers and more.
You are giving these items a second chance and you are also supporting the work we do.
At Futureworks we support over 100 young people and adults annually.
You can support us by simply helping us raise awareness of the work we do by liking, following and sharing our social content too on Facebook
by faithyoung | Nov 1, 2024 | 2024
As Christmas is coming up fast, choosing a gift for someone can take time, effort and thought.
It depends on the occasion, the person and of course, the money in your purse or wallet.
And so many of us will have received gifts, which despite best efforts, have missed the mark, and which have remained unopened or unused.
Well, the team at Futureworks NY, will launch their Gift It appeal on Friday 1st November 2024 which will tick all the boxes on your Christmas Gifts list in time for the festive season.
It could be we have the perfect gift you’ve been looking for, and which has eluded you!
Our exciting initiative will help raise funds for the charity so they can help more people in the area.
Sarah, co-founder of Futureworks NY, says: “Many of us have items around which we’ve either received as gifts, or perhaps it was an impulse buy.
“Gift It is a ‘win win’ as it allows brand new, quality items to be donated which in turn will help others in the Scarborough area.
“This means you can donate a gift that perhaps isn’t required in a guilt free way.”
The Futureworks team will be showcasing their Gift It campaign at Scarborough Sparkle 29th November – 1st December which takes place at the Open Air Theatre in the town’s North Bay.
This popular Christmas event kicks off the festive season in Scarborough and is a great place to work your way down the Christmas shopping list, while helping raise funds for our charity, Futureworks NY.
Michelle, co-founder, says: “We welcome unwanted homewares, perfume, gifts, games, bottles, and vouchers.
“Items can be dropped off at two donation locations in Scarborough: Furniture Works at 39, St Thomas Street Scarborough, Monday to Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm or at our office/workshop 40, Victoria Road, Scarborough, Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm.”
Futureworks provides support and guidance to vulnerable and disengaged individuals; young people aged 15+, providing holistic support as well as opportunities to develop experience, life skills and accredited qualifications.
The team works with economically inactive adults with the aim of moving them closer to employment, increasing social skills and reducing feelings of isolation for our local community in Scarborough.
We strive to encourage all ages to reach their potential through engagement, motivation, and support via alternative learning structures. The Gift It campaign will help raise funds so we can help more people to fulfil their goals.
To find out more about Futureworks NY, visit https://futureworksny.co.uk
by faithyoung | Oct 15, 2024 | 2024, Funding Projects
As one of Scarborough’s charities, we, the team at Futureworks NY, is offering the chance for everyone to help make a difference to their local community on Saturday 19th October 2024!
We officially launch our Freedom Funding campaign at Furniture Works, our homewares retail outlet at 39 St Thomas Street, Scarborough, from 10am to 4pm.
Furniture Works is one of the projects run by our team.
Futureworks NY, co-founded by Michelle and Sarah, strives to encourage all ages to fulfil their potential through engagement, motivation, and support via alternative learning structures.
We have made a commitment to becoming more self-sustainable in terms of raising funds in order to be more responsive and tackle a growing waiting list.
We have set our fundraising goal at £50,000 by May 2025.
Michelle says: “Our official launch day on Saturday 19th October offers a chance to meet some of the team and ask any questions.
“We need freedom funding, and we’re searching for people who’d like to support our work and our new team. Continuous funding and financial donations are vital in helping us to provide support and guidance to vulnerable and disengaged individuals; and young people aged 15+, as we provide holistic support, as well as opportunities to develop experience, life skills and accredited qualifications.
“This will have a direct impact on bringing our waiting list down and helping those in our community who need our support.”
Sarah says: “There are many ways people can help by donating from little as £5 per month; they can do a sponsored mountain climb, bake cakes, become a corporate donor or people can support us by simply helping us raise awareness of the work we do by liking, following and sharing our social media content too.
“We very much look forward to seeing people at Furniture Works on the 19th October, during which there will be a 10% discount on items which can be purchased in our shop. We are also open to new ideas to help us.”
“Futureworks NY also works with economically inactive adults with the aim of moving them closer to employment, increasing social skills and reducing feelings of isolation for our local community in Scarborough.”
by faithyoung | Sep 17, 2024 | 2024, New season
We are very excited to welcome Shaun, Angela and Lee as we continue to grow the team at Futureworks.
This will have a direct impact on bringing our waiting list down and helping those in our community who need our support.
Continuous funding and financial donations are also vital in helping us to provide support and guidance to vulnerable and disengaged individuals; and young people aged 15+, as we provide holistic support, as well as opportunities to develop experience, life skills and accredited qualifications.
by faithyoung | Aug 19, 2024 | 2024, Home Education
Here at Futureworks NY we have expanded our portfolio as demand continues to increase.
Home schooling is one of our most in-demand services.
We’re seeking support from local businesses for this critical work in our community.
Michelle Padron Kitching, co-founder and CEO of Futureworks NY said: “Our home schooling programme, which is fully funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, provides an alternative format for students in Years 10 and 11 for those who have elected to have home education.”
The specially developed programme, which is led by team member Daniella Jordan, includes functional skills, confidence building, social skills assistance, holistic support and more.
Sarah Thornton, co-founder and CEO of Futureworks NY said: “As we continue to help, support and hopefully guide young people in our local community, this programme is a lifeline for students that find they don’t always reach their potential within conventional educational settings.
“We currently have an increasing waiting list and as our aim is to help as many within our local community as possible; we are seeking to expand this service if we can so we can meet demand.
“This can be achieved through support from local businesses who can become sponsors of this important aspect of alternative education.”
Michelle added: “Our dedicated, talented team and our student cohort work together and great things are possible. We know the demand is completely outstripping supply at the moment: all it takes is for one or two local businesses or companies to give us a call and find out how they can help.
“Investing in future generations is essential for the future health, wellbeing and prosperity of not only the students, but to the local economy, too.”
Get in touch if your company can help – 01723 449616
by faithyoung | Jul 11, 2024 | 2024, Blog, Funding Projects
All the Fs … Futureworks NY and Freedom Funding!
Here at Futureworks, we are very lucky in that we have applied for funding and we’ve been successful with the likes of Children In Need and other organisations.
These much-needed pots of ‘cash’ are more often than not ring fenced for particular projects.
This is completely correct and commendable, and various monies have helped fund our Adult Training, Youth Development, workshops and more.
Yet one of our aims is to become more self-sufficient with our fundraising.
In other words, by May 2025, we are hoping to generate £50,000 so we have the freedom to be flexible for our learners’ needs and requirements with ‘freedom funding’.
This will mean we are less reliant on ‘tied’ funding, enabling us to be readily responsive to those who need support, help and encouragement.
In 2027, we will celebrate our 15th anniversary and while this is some time away, we know there is ever-increasing demand in the local Scarborough area.
Therefore, by 2027, with the help of freedom funding, we are hoping to increase the number of learners we support by 40%.
We currently have a waiting list so there is definitely the need.
While this is ambitious, with help, it is entirely possible.
Freedom funding comes in many forms.
It could be corporate sponsorship by a local business.
It could be charitable ventures (we list some that we’ve already achieved below).
It could be a donation, however small (or large!).
Donate here!
It could be that your workplace nominates Futureworks NY as your charity of the year.
And of course, freedom funding also comes about from sales at Furniture Works, St Thomas Street, Scarborough.
This is our retail space in the heart of our seaside town and is part of the Futureworks NY family.
Monies made from Furniture Works sales are ploughed back into Futureworks NY, helping ‘freedom fund’ the work we do.
So, it might be easy to imagine, if we had additional freedom funding, how many people we could help!
It would mean more learners gaining employment, a place at college or entering an apprenticeship.
It goes without saying that it means we can potentially expand our team as we grow.
We have already started the freedom funding ball rolling with our Coffee Works initiative.
Pop into our Furniture Works store, grab a fresh coffee and when you pay, you know those pennies and pounds will help someone who needs that helping hand.
Our team, including CEOs Michelle Padron-Kitching and Sarah Thornton, have also put their money where their mouth is.
Charitable events include walking the entire Cleveland Way National Trail; dropping out of a plane (yes, with a parachute!), tackling a couple of half marathons including the demanding Ravenscar Half (anyone who’s tackled this knows it’s a lung buster).
It has even been said it’s tougher than the London Marathon!
We have lots more up our sleeves.
So as we become funded more freely, what elements would we be able to fund?
We would be able offer an even more rounded service, so our clients could access support for mental health, financial issues and housing.
It would mean we could develop our provision of care on an entirely bespoke basis, so the individual’s learning needs are recognised, with earlier intervention meaning that person moves on and their strengths are recognised.
As anyone who’s applied for funding knows, competition is fierce.
There are more applicants per pot of money, sometimes reducing the chances of a successful application.
And as we approach the first anniversary of becoming a registered charity, this milestone helps people see the value of our work.
Yet with recent successes such as our clients receiving their certificates, it’s clear to see how Futureworks NY and the work we do is essential.
Freedom funding means less reliance upon complex contracts and ringfenced pots of ‘spondoolies’.
Freedom funding also means we can help more learners achieve their own freedom; freedom from barriers such as mental health, lack of confidence, anxiety.
You can’t really put a price tag on that … so if you can help us and our team, we’d love to hear from you.
