Community

Teesside Park wins SCEPTRE Award for Bright Lights

Teesside Park has been recognised at the Retail Destination SCEPTRE Awards 2025, winning Community Initiative of the Year (North) for its flagship Bright Lights employability programme.

For the past 12 years, Bright Lights has supported local young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), many from households affected by generational unemployment. The six-week programme combines workshops, mentoring, work placements with Teesside Park retailers, as well as inspiring talks from guest speakers. Delivered by Teesside Park in partnership with the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and local partners including the Stockton Employment and Training Hub, it helps young people gain the confidence, skills, and opportunities to move into employment.

The 2024 programme welcomed 27 young people, many of whom initially lacked confidence. By the end, participants had grown in self-belief, built new friendships, and gained valuable work experience, with 22 securing employment – the programme’s best outcome to date.

Catherine Furlong, Centre Director at Teesside Park, said:
”Bright Lights is a project we are incredibly proud of. Seeing young people grow in confidence, gain skills and take their first steps into work is truly inspiring. Winning the SCEPTRE award is fantastic recognition for everyone involved in making the project such a success.”

Teesside Park looks forward to continuing Bright Lights and supporting even more young people across the Tees Valley in the future.

Last updated Monday 15 June, 2026