Status 4 All helping troubled locals find their feet

Langley charity Status 4 All is helping troubled locals find their feet

A Langley-based charity has been helping troubled and disadvantaged people with community projects and work placements aimed at improving their employability.

Status 4 All was set up by husband and wife team Sue and Terry Smith and recognised as a charity in 2011. They work with 18 to 30-year-old Universal Credit claimants and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants in Langley and surrounding areas – helping them to find their feet and get into the world of work.

Cooperating with other organisations in the area, including Middleton Job Centre Plus, the charity gives volunteer opportunities to participants.

Their latest scheme is the Community Grow Project - taking on young adults for 10-week work placements within the community.

“We started doing work with young people to engage those that are hard to reach,” Sue explained, “we’re engaging them, getting them the training, helping them with their CV.”

Status 4 All provides plenty of opportunities for those who are interested in getting involved.

“They choose what they want to do, we have placements for catering, gardening, food growing, IT, handy man service, and plenty more,” Sue said.

As part of the Community Grow Project, fruit and vegetables will be grown at the Langley Community Leisure Garden allotments, and then redistributed within the area.

Sue said: “They are working in their own community and everything that they do is helping charities like ours, so their volunteer work is valued. And as it is for their own community, they are changing not only their own lives but their community and families’ lives for decades to come.”

Sue also said that none of the charity’s work would be possible without the help of other organisation in Langley, and that by working together they can make a big difference.

She added: “All this work is co-ordinated by us but partnerships are the key. Without the partnerships this would not be possible at all. It’s a community enterprise.””

Sue gave special thanks to Langley Theatre Workshop, Sue ITEllite, Demesne and Burnside Community Centres, Inspire Community College, The Angel Project, Langley Community Leisure Garden group, and Middleton Rotary Club.

For the future of Status 4 All hopes more funding can be obtained to allow for the hiring of staff in order to widen the reach of their work.

Anyone wishing to get involved with the charity to give Sue a call on 0161 643 6635 or 07767 820987.