Gateshead Council host spectacular fashion show celebrating inclusion
On Friday 13 December, we hosted our first ever 'PrimED for Christmas' festive fashion show at Gateshead Civic Centre to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities earlier in the month.
The fun, feel-good celebration was delivered in partnership by our Gateshead Access to Employment Service, who support people with learning disabilities and who are neurodiverse into work, and Learning and Skills, who offer education and training to residents including specialist provision for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The fashion show was also supported by Primark's store teams in Gateshead Metrocentre, Hartlepool and Newcastle, who donated the selection of outfits worn by models on the catwalk.
The stylish showcase saw both services' clients and learners take centre stage, cheered on by a packed audience of friends, family, local businesses and council staff. To the sound of Christmas classics, models sleighed down the runway in cosy casualwear before a quick change into their final showstopping look.
During the event, Chief Executive Dale Owens made his catwalk debut, and Pride Radio's Peter Darrant was the show's compère.
Students from Gateshead College also got involved behind the scenes, styling models' hair and makeup, and photographing the event.
One of the models who took part in the show is Debbie Storey. Debbie, a client of Gateshead Access to Employment Service, has had a career at Gateshead Council since 1999 and recently achieved her 25 years in service award.
Speaking about her involvement in PrimED for Christmas and getting to close the show, Debbie said: "It's absolutely amazing. I've always wanted to do a catwalk and now I am. I'm chuffed to bits."
Councillor John Adams, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, shared: "We need to do more to support Disabled people to thrive in employment, and they deserve every opportunity to work and gain new skills. Today has been a fantastic afternoon, and it is a pleasure to celebrate those who've worked with both Learning and Skills and Gateshead Access to Employment Service. Well done to all involved."
Aileen McCall, Area Manager for the North East and Humberside at Primark, said: "We're so pleased to be supporting such a fantastic event by donating a selection of Primark outfits to help people look and feel good on the catwalk.
"Our local Primark store teams who have been busy throughout the festive period donating over £10,000 worth of products to local community initiatives as part of our nationwide Christmas giving campaign to 'Bring The Joy'. Today, it's been brilliant to play a small part in creating a little bit of festive sparkle for our local community to enjoy together."
Vicky Cross, Head of Department at Gateshead College, said: "Our photography and hair and beauty students loved working on the fashion show. It gave them the chance to put the skills and knowledge they've learnt in the classroom into action on a live project and we'd like to thank the council for giving them this opportunity".
We're hugely proud of all our clients, learners, services and partners coming together to make PrimED for Christmas truly unforgettable.
Our Gateshead Access to Employment Service are looking for businesses who could offer their clients roles. If you have a vacancy to fill, please contact GATES@gateshead.gov.uk
Our Learning and Skills team are also recruiting people to join their Supported Employment Forum, a network of partners aiming to boost employment for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. If this could be you, please email supportedemploymentforum@gateshead.gov.uk
On Friday 13 December, we hosted our first ever 'PrimED for Christmas' festive fashion show at Gateshead Civic Centre to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities earlier in the month.
The fun, feel-good celebration was delivered in partnership by our Gateshead Access to Employment Service, who support people with learning disabilities and who are neurodiverse into work, and Learning and Skills, who offer education and training to residents including specialist provision for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The fashion show was also supported by Primark's store teams in Gateshead Metrocentre, Hartlepool and Newcastle, who donated the selection of outfits worn by models on the catwalk.
The stylish showcase saw both services' clients and learners take centre stage, cheered on by a packed audience of friends, family, local businesses and council staff. To the sound of Christmas classics, models sleighed down the runway in cosy casualwear before a quick change into their final showstopping look.
During the event, Chief Executive Dale Owens made his catwalk debut, and Pride Radio's Peter Darrant was the show's compère.
Students from Gateshead College also got involved behind the scenes, styling models' hair and makeup, and photographing the event.
One of the models who took part in the show is Debbie Storey. Debbie, a client of Gateshead Access to Employment Service, has had a career at Gateshead Council since 1999 and recently achieved her 25 years in service award.
Speaking about her involvement in PrimED for Christmas and getting to close the show, Debbie said: "It's absolutely amazing. I've always wanted to do a catwalk and now I am. I'm chuffed to bits."
Councillor John Adams, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, shared: "We need to do more to support Disabled people to thrive in employment, and they deserve every opportunity to work and gain new skills. Today has been a fantastic afternoon, and it is a pleasure to celebrate those who've worked with both Learning and Skills and Gateshead Access to Employment Service. Well done to all involved."
Aileen McCall, Area Manager for the North East and Humberside at Primark, said: "We're so pleased to be supporting such a fantastic event by donating a selection of Primark outfits to help people look and feel good on the catwalk.
"Our local Primark store teams who have been busy throughout the festive period donating over £10,000 worth of products to local community initiatives as part of our nationwide Christmas giving campaign to 'Bring The Joy'. Today, it's been brilliant to play a small part in creating a little bit of festive sparkle for our local community to enjoy together."
Vicky Cross, Head of Department at Gateshead College, said: "Our photography and hair and beauty students loved working on the fashion show. It gave them the chance to put the skills and knowledge they've learnt in the classroom into action on a live project and we'd like to thank the council for giving them this opportunity".
We're hugely proud of all our clients, learners, services and partners coming together to make PrimED for Christmas truly unforgettable.
Our Gateshead Access to Employment Service are looking for businesses who could offer their clients roles. If you have a vacancy to fill, please contact GATES@gateshead.gov.uk
Our Learning and Skills team are also recruiting people to join their Supported Employment Forum, a network of partners aiming to boost employment for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. If this could be you, please email supportedemploymentforum@gateshead.gov.uk
