Harps kicks off new city partnership

NEWCASTLE United Foundation Trustee Steve Harper has challenged students from across the North East to chase their dream jobs by launching a partnership which promises to kickstart city-centre learning.

The former Newcastle United goalkeeper turned first-team coach is a keen supporter of further education and had set his sights on a university place as a teenager before full-time football came calling.

Harper was on hand to confirm a new three-year agreement between Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle College which confirms the latter as a strategic learning partner ahead of the opening of the NUCASTLE community hub in 2021.

It is the Foundation’s flagship centre for the charity’s NU Futures programme to be built a five-minute walk away from St James’ Park.

Harper

(pictured) said: “Everyone at the Foundation is incredibly proud of our ongoing partnership with Newcastle

College and the amazing opportunities this provides for young people in the local community to learn new skills, improve on existing ones and to gain confidence in themselves to gain employment.

“Our charity supports people of all ages but times are tough in the current climate for young people especially.

“With this partnership, they will see the services the college provides through that link-up with the Foundation and they get that right on their doorstep.”

The college and the Foundation already work in tandem to encourage a dual-career approach to sport and education.

College students enrolled on Level Two and Level Three sport courses represent the Foundation in the National Football Youth League.

Harper added: “As soon I mentioned the football programme to the students here, their faces lit up.

“I have worked alongside Terry Mitchell and I know what a brilliant head of the BTEC programme he is.

“To see the young lads with the Newcastle crest on their chest, you know just how much it means to them to represent the College and the Foundation’s programme out on a national scale.”