SHEFFIELD'S newest educational college based in the heart of the city has banked a £20,000 charitable donation from one of the UK's major financial institutions.
Abbey's Charitable Trust made the generous donation to Freeman College, part of Ruskin Mill Educational Trust (RMET), through its local office in Attercliffe.
The donation will help the college to establish a café/restaurant at its new flagship site at the Butcher Works in the heart of the city. The café, which will be called Fusion, will give the college students valuable opportunities for work placements and catering experience.
Sheffield's Freeman College, which was founded in 2005, is one of three colleges established by RMET and offers a wide range of education and training to 16 to 25-year-olds with autistic spectrum disorders and developmental delay.
The College opened its Butcher Works site in December last year and, more recently in May, the neighbouring Sterling Works was unveiled – a former 18th century cutlery works now converted by the college into spectacular modern facilities for on-site teaching, craft workshops, a coffee shop, a student refectory and bakery.
Claire Youdan, team manager at Abbey's Attercliffe base, said: "We are delighted to be able to make this donation. Abbey's Charitable Trust is committed to working with local communities and is particularly keen to encourage educational development and training opportunities.
"The new café is not only a great asset to the college but also offers a real working environment in which students can gain key skills and professional qualifications that will help them gain permanent and sustainable work in the future."
David Heugh, Director of Fundraising for Freeman College, said: "We are very grateful to Abbey's Charitable Trust for this generous donation which will help us to establish the new Fusion café.
"Thousands of visitors will be coming to the Butcher Works exhibitions in future years and the café will be an income generator as well as offering numerous catering opportunities for our young students.
"The college has an excellent relationship with Abbey who have also made a major contribution to the college's Woodland Craft site in Ecclesall Woods.
"Both Butcher Works and Sterling Works are important parts of Sheffield's industrial and cultural heritage and it is wonderful to have support from such a widely recognised organisation."
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