Action West London (AWL), an Acton based charity, covering all of West London, which aims to change lives through employment, education, and enterprise has received a £1,000 donation from housebuilder Barratt London, the developer responsible for Western Circus on Western Avenue, also in Acton. The donation has supported the charity in purchasing laptops to loan to unemployed, disadvantaged young people and adults, to help them to access necessary skills training and apply for jobs.

The donation comes as part of Barratt London’s Community Fund, a scheme which sees the housebuilder offer £1,000 each month to a charity or community group improving the lives of people living in the areas local to its developments.

Action West London’s new loan scheme will help members of the community hoping to access the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, an online training scheme and qualification required for employment in the construction sector. It can also assist individuals interested in AWL’s online training course to run stalls at the charity’s Action Street Market, through access to a personal computer, unemployed people can start training from home.

Ed McCoy, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt West London, comments: “During this time of great uncertainty, it is more important than ever to support organisations that are dedicated to supporting employability amongst disadvantaged and marginalised young people and adults. We are proud to award this community fund donation to Action West London, a charity that really does change lives for the better.”

Action West London has been making an impact on the local Acton community for the past 20 years, and currently offers over 10 different projects and services, ranging from education services to employment opportunities for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Last year alone, the charity worked with 674 West London residents.

Dr John Blackmore, Chief Executive of Action West London adds: “We are grateful for the donation from Barratt London which will enable us to purchase laptops and tablets for our loan scheme. Access to a laptop is increasingly important for individuals looking for employment, especially during the Covid-19 crisis, where training, applications, and sometimes the job itself have all been transferred and adapted to the online space.”

If you are an unemployed young person or adult in West London looking for a job, contact AWL on 020 8993 9605 or visit [email protected]. For more information about the charity as a whole visit www.actionwestlondon.org.uk.

Local groups and charities are encouraged to apply for Barratt London’s Community Fund donation via [email protected]. Applicants should make clear where their charity is based and what the £1,000 will be used for. One of Barratt London’s charity representatives will then be in touch if the application is successful. Barratt London is donating £1,000 every month so if applications aren’t successful first time round, charities are encouraged to reapply at a later date.