Employability day 'first of its kind' for young black people in Wolverhampton
Young black children and teenagers thinking about life after their school years will be able to meet professionals from all walks of life at a special Wolverhampton employability day.
Thought to be the first of its kind in the city, the event will be held at Molineux on February 22 and is tailored for black people aged between 10 and 16 and their families.
The day has been organised by the Reach Society, with Wesleyan Holiness Church and the Church Urban Fund, and aims to bring together black people of all ages and professions to inspire the next generation.
Part of the organising team is Rev Cassius Francis who said many members of the local black community had signed up to be role models for the young students on the day.
The Reverend, who used to be based at Wesleyan Holiness Church in Merridale Lane before recently moving to Birmingham, said: "We know this isn't a new issue - there are issues affecting members of the black community and men in particular, which are quite historical. But we have recognised that there are positive things we can do to address that.
"We will have a range of employers on the day - with role models in different careers.
"There's the Army, West Midlands Ambulance, the African Caribbean Community Initiative (ACCI) and more. And they will come from a range of backgrounds - white, black and everything in between."
Rev. Francis added he hoped the role models working on the day could act as "voices of experience" to the young people and their parents.
Chairman of the Reach Society Dr Dwain Neil said the Wolverhampton event was the first one to be held outside of London since the initiative began seven years ago.
He said: "We reached out to Wolverhampton after a suggested from the Church Urban Fund. They were excited about the way we were connecting with young people.
"Our ambition is to inspire young people to discover the pathway to success. Imagine your 10-year-old self. There is not a lot of knowledge of what your future path is.
"So we want to help young people close the gap with professionals from their community and to hear about how to be successful."
Wolverhampton Employability Day 2018 will run from 11am to 3pm. Booking is required but spaces are limited, so anyone interested in coming along is urged to get in touch as soon as possible.
Visit wesleyanchurch.co.uk/employability-day-2018 to register.
