How young people help each other into work

Project
Ealing Pathways

Funding
About £60,000 a year from Ealing Council

Purpose
To help vulnerable young people into education, training and employment

Background
Ealing took part in the vTalent programme by offering work placements to young people in its children’s services department. The scheme was so successful that when funding came to an end, the local authority decided to continue with its own version.

Action
The three-year pathways project launched in December 2011. It takes on two groups of 12 young people each year, targeting vulnerable 16- to 24-year-olds including those with disabilities, young offenders, young people from the traveller community, young people who have been in care, those who have attended alternative education and those who have not been in education, employment and training for six months or more.

The scheme uses the expertise of the local Connexions service with a project co-ordinator and pastoral worker from Connexions attached to the project. Young people must go through an interview before selection and then undertake a three-week induction including team-building activities, work-related skills and other support. They then embark on a supervised and supported work placement with regular group training and mentoring. All the young people are encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

The group sessions are an important factor in the programme’s success, explains Ealing Connexions manager John Redmond. “It’s a chance for them to learn from their experiences and each other,” he says.

Young people get an allowance during the six-month placement and are placed with local organisations including youth and play services and council departments with roles including youth work, administration and receptionist jobs, and caretaking. “We select the people and then look at what would work best for them,” says Redmond.

Participants gain certificates and qualifications in areas including customer service and basic health and safety, while training covers job applications and budgeting. Services taking part benefit as well: “Bringing in young people is like bringing a breath of fresh air into the place,” says Redmond.

Outcome
In the last cohort 11 young people were recruited with nine completing the programme, including two young people known to the youth offending service, two looked-after young people and one young woman with additional needs. Seven months on, all are still involved in education, training or employment.

The scheme is highly cost-effective, says Redmond. “We’ve seen the approach work with young people who’ve been in prison who have not re-offended,” he says. “Just two cases like that and the scheme pays for itself.”