Newcastle United Foundation's ambitious outreach programme for schoolchildren, teenagers and young adults has today launched across the North East with the support of Newcastle United Foundation Trustee Shola Ameobi.

Centrally based in NUCASTLE, powered by Newcastle Building Society, NU Futures will support 12,000 young people annually over the next decade and transform the way the next generation enters the world of work.

By better connecting young people with life-changing opportunities in the North of Tyne economy through inspirational STEM learning, apprenticeships, and career paths, NU Futures will tackle wealth inequalities issues, low productivity, and exclusion for the next generation.

Ameobi saw first-hand where NU Futures will be delivered by Newcastle United Foundation with support from the North of Tyne Combined Authority through their £2.6m investment into the careers and education programme.

At an exclusive launch event at NUCASTLE - a stone's throw from where Ameobi grew up - the Foundation trustee met with teenagers and young adults already receiving employment support from the charity to improve their confidence, interviewing skills and job prospects.

Standing on top of the three-storey facility in Newcastle's West End, Ameobi, Foundation participants and trustees became some of the first people to visit the 4G rooftop pitch at NUCASTLE, which provides views across the area where communities will benefit from NU Futures.

Ameobi said: "Building this incredible facility has been years in the making, so to be standing here alongside participants and the team who have made this possible is amazing."

"It's a pleasure to chat to the young people, Foundation staff and the wider community who will be using this space for years to come. It really will help to improve the lives of so many more people already supported to achieve their potential through the Foundation.

The visit comes as teenagers across the North of Tyne area also gain experience and insight into NU Futures, with ten youngsters meeting with staff at Port of Blyth to tour the site and learn more about the energy industry, while Marden High School students join classroom-based learning with Foundation staff and regional employers in STEM sectors.

North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said: "This project is all about inspiring kids. There's help to get fit, get active and find jobs. There's teaching in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and outreach work all across the region.

"Up to Berwick, across North Tyneside and right the way out across the Tyne Valley. It's wonderful to see what's been achieved using our £2.6 million investment, one of my first acts as mayor of the North of Tyne."

NU Futures will be one of the largest employment support programmes for 11 to 25-year-olds in the region, with outreach work across Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland through a network of up to 300 North East businesses.

A total of 56 secondary schools from Newcastle to Northumberland will also access the programme and make use of world-class facilities available at NUCASTLE - particularly through a specialist STEM learning room and digital suites.

Steve Beharall, Head of Newcastle United Foundation, said: "We are incredibly proud to launch NU Futures and to share our ambitions for the region's young people who deserve meaningful opportunities to live, work and thrive in their home communities and in the economy of the future.

"NU Futures is a powerful collaboration, connecting our charity to the region's businesses, schools, colleges and high-quality education and training partners. Together, we can position the North of Tyne areas as a UK leader and innovator in preparing the next generation for future careers by equipping every individual we support with the ambition, confidence, and skills they need to succeed."

All employability, schools, and learning projects now fall under the NU Futures umbrella at the Foundation - with 26 members of staff dedicated to the programme. The region's schools, employers and businesses are invited to get involved with the NU Futures progamme.

Construction work at NUCASTLE is expected to be fully complete in November 2021. Once open in Spring 2022, the innovative three-storey hub will become a landmark venue attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually, with children, young people, adults and elderly residents able to access a range of world-class facilities.

Steve Beharall added: "Establishing NU Futures at NUCASTLE is an incredibly significant moment for our Foundation and one only made possible by a number of key investors, supporters and stakeholders.

"I would personally like to thank Newcastle United for their continued support and to highlight key contributions from North of Tyne Combined Authority, Newcastle Building Society, Newcastle College, North East LEP and Reece Foundation towards our state-of-the-art facility and flagship careers programme."

Schools, employers and training partners across the region are invited to get involved with the NU Futures programme to expand opportunities for young people in the North East. For more info email andrew.foster@nufc.co.uk

For more information about the Foundation, the NU Futures programme or NUCASTLE, follow Newcastle United Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for regular news and updates.