b-side has been shortlisted for a national award for it’s innovative youth employment project with social housing organisation Synergy.

In June 2013 b-side was identified as the lead organisation to manage a new partnership between arts organisations in Dorset, Synergy Housing and Real Ideas Organisation to deliver a project for 15-25 year olds to improve their employability. You can find out more about the project and  download the project report here.

Fifty-eight of the young people involved achieved Arts Award, Social Enterprise, Free Running or EU Youth Pass qualifications, while others received expert help to access apprenticeships, training and work experience opportunities.

Angela Gould of Synergy, said: “It is really exciting to be nominated and just to be shortlisted is testament to the project that it was…..it is exciting that they felt it was worthy of being up there and it is great to have all of that work come together and be recognised in this way. Young people were involved in the project from start to finish and played an integral part in designing how the project could best meet their needs, which ultimately lead to the scheme’s successful outcomes.”

The b-roads project has been nominated in both the Excellence in Youth Involvement and Excellence in Employment Skills and Training categories at the southern regional final of the TPAS awards on February 5 at the Hilton Hotel in Wembley, London.

Regional winners will then proceed to the national final, to be held at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Warwickshire on July 14.