Job Shop saved

A GRANT of £40,000 has saved a charity which helps young people find employment from the threat of closure.
The P3 Job Shop which runs in Station Road, Hayes and High Street Yiewsley was due to close down both its branches on June 1 but thanks to Hillingdon Council's support it can continue for the next six months whilst it tries to raise more funding.
The organisation helps people between 16 - 25 to find work, giving support to youngsters with few qualifications as well as those who are homeless, drug addicts, asylum seekers and clients with language barriers. It also provides accommodation having three hostels in the borough. Over the last year the P3 Job Shop has helped more than 120 people.
The grant was approved by Hillingdon Council at their Cabinet meeting on Thursday (May 28).
Ray Puddifoot, leader of the council, said: "I received an email from the P3 Job Shop last week saying they are closing and that they would be making redundancies from June 1.
"They were getting funding from The London Development Agency, but this stopped on March 31. The organisation had been looking for funding from other sources but with no success.
"We have given them the grant because we felt it was important for us to help them because the work that they do is vital particularly at a time of recession when jobs aren't easy to come by."
Mr Puddifoot explained it was possible to provide the funding because the council have a contingency fund of £700,000 to deal with issues like this.
Neelam Challoner, manager at the branch in Hayes, said: "We're grateful to the council because they helped us at the last moment, to do what we do best which is helping other people to get into work.
"We are now putting a bid for Hillingdon Community Trust for £40,000 so that we can continue for a year."
She explained keeping the Job Shop going is really important because it's giving a future to young people.
She added: "We don't just help people by looking at their CV and improving their practical skills but we also look at issues such as confidence and motivation as well."