Three13 are opening doors to new opportunities in North Yorkshire
Three13 began with a simple idea: using what they had to help people who were finding it hard to get back into work. Growing out of Tees Valley Community Church, the project uses space, skills and time to support people facing real barriers to employment. Through hands-on, work-based training, Three13 helps people rebuild confidence, find a sense of purpose and feel part of their community again.
They take a different approach to training, knowing that a job on its own doesn’t fix everything. Instead, Three13 focuses on wellbeing, resilience and relationships, the things that help people stay in work and move forward in life. Learners gain qualifications in real working environments such as kitchens, gardens and workshops, while doing something useful for others. As the team often say, “Why sit in a classroom, when your learning could help someone else?”
And it works. Last year, 200 people completed a Three13 programme. Most said they felt more confident at work, and many noticed improvements in their health and wellbeing too. Together, learners achieved 276 vocational qualifications, with one in three going on to employment or further training.
Expanding opportunity in Northallerton
Wanting to open up these opportunities to more people, New Life Baptist Church invited Three13 to bring their work to Northallerton. The result is a new training programme that’s also creating a family-friendly community garden for local people to enjoy.
Since the project began in February 2024, learners have cleared more than 28 years’ worth of rubbish from the site and completed most of the hard landscaping. So far, 32 people have completed the programme, and almost all achieved a vocational qualification along the way.
Thanks to support from the Bettys and Taylors Community Fund, the project was open to anyone aged 18+, bringing together people from very different backgrounds. Around 30% of learners had convictions, and another 30% were asylum seekers waiting for leave to remain. Many arrived feeling unsure about what came next, or disconnected from the place they lived. Over time, they found somewhere they felt welcome, supported and able to give something back.
Week by week, confidence began to grow. People who started out anxious or withdrawn began to speak up, work alongside others and recognise their own strengths. Of the 32 learners, six have since moved into employment, four into further training and eight into regular volunteering as a step towards work. For many, simply having somewhere to go each week, and people expecting them, made a huge difference.
People participating often say it was being part of a group that truly understood the challenge of starting again that mattered most. The practical work built their skills, but the sense of belonging helped people imagine new possibilities. For those who had felt stuck or overlooked, these small steps marked a real turning point.
Why this work matters
Work-based learning can be life-changing. For people who have experienced setbacks, it offers more than a qualification – it brings routine, connection and pride. At Three13, a supportive team and a focus on doing something meaningful help people rebuild confidence and move forward at their own pace.
Three13 continues to grow and share this approach across the region, creating spaces where people can learn, feel valued and take their next steps as part of a community.
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