Solihull College & University Centre’s Adult Skills team have teamed up with Barakah by Zymals Community Initiative Company (CIC) to deliver staff training and courses for the wider community.
Barakah by Zymals, based at the Zymals banqueting venue in Sparkbrook, is a community hub bringing people together with the goal of community development, youth empowerment, and wellbeing support. It offers space and activities for the elderly, children, parents, and will provide workshops around different topics such as ‘homework club’.
By delivering high-quality, flexible training to their staff and volunteers, as well as members of the wider community through courses at the venue, the College’s Adult Skills team is not only supporting the incredible work Barakah does in local area, the project is also directly contributing to the shared priorities of the College and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Sector Skills Lead, Shamira Bolia, commented: “This partnership represents exactly what adult skills provision should be – responsive, impactful, and rooted in the needs of our local communities. By equipping staff and volunteers with the right skills, we’re not just supporting one organisation; we’re strengthening the wider social fabric of the West Midlands.”
?Director of Barakah by Zymals (CIC), Sabna Atif, comments: “Partnering with Solihull College & University Centre gives our staff and volunteers access to high-quality training that directly strengthens the services we will be providing. By developing practical skills and recognised qualifications, our team can support more people, deliver better outcomes, and grow the long-term impact of our work across the community. This partnership is an investment in our people – and in the futures of those we hope to serve.”
Initial training to be delivered will include fundamentals such as health and safety, equality and diversity and safeguarding, later leading to specific subjects including nutrition, food hygiene and neurodiversity.
