Prince of Wales to visit Redcar in wake of steel crisis and meet former workers
The heir to the throne will meet members of the SSI Task Force as well as staff, apprentices and businesses hit by the closure
Mike Blackburn
The Prince of Wales (Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
The Prince of Wales is to visit Redcar to see how the community and former SSI workers have been supported in the wake of the steel crisis.
This is the latest of several visits to Teesside since the last steel crisis of 2010, when The Prince came to show his support for the local community of Redcar.
On Wednesday Prince Charles will visit the Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart, where he will meet members of the SSI Task Force as well as staff, apprentices and businesses affected by the closure.
Chair of the SSI Task Force and chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland Council Amanda Skelton said: "His Royal Highness has shown his great affection for the area over recent years and clearly wants to demonstrate his support for our local communities affected by the SSI crisis.
"I am pleased that The Prince will also be able to meet some of our local businesses who are helping to diversify our economy and create jobs."
The heir to the throne will meet representatives from local firms who have seen some success recently in growing and creating jobs, as well as members of the Industrial Cadets, a work experience programme inspired by The Prince's visit in 2010, as they celebrate their fifth anniversary.
The Prince will also visit local firm ElringKlinger to meet staff and apprentices, and hear about the way the company has been providing employment and training opportunities.
Prince Charles on Teesside through the years
Gallery: Prince Charles on Teesside through the years
Prince Charles, who is President of Business in the Community, will then head to Kirkleatham to attend a reception for the charity's Business Connecters. The Business Connnectors programme places individuals from business on secondment to support local communities.
Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Brenda Forster, said: "We are really looking forward to The Prince of Wales's visit so that he can see first-hand how everyone in the area has pulled together over the last few months to help each other.
"It's also a great opportunity to update The Prince on the work we have been doing in the community to help people get back into work."
The Prince will also visit the new Redcar Joint Cadet Facility to meet young Cadets from the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps and hear about their training.
Dr Gordon Mizner, chief executive of EDT, the education charity that co-ordinates Industrial Cadets said: "Industrial Cadets was originally inspired by His Royal Highness during a visit to Tata Steel on Teesside in 2010.
"Industrial Cadets is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. There are now more than 3,500 Industrial Cadets, drawn from over 1,000 schools and over 200 companies run Industrial Cadet accredited programmes."
Previous visits by The Prince in recent years include a trip to PD Ports in 2013 and in 2010 he met employees at a Corus steelworks plant following the previous decision to mothball it.
Redcar and Cleveland Council