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Memorial Fund provides NEET solution

The future of an important programme which has helped over 40 local young people get back into work, education or training has been secured through a generous donation from a Surrey-based charity.

Employment & Education (E&E) is one of the services for homeless young people run by the Aldershot-based charity, Step by Step. It provides support and training for 16-25 year-olds who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) and may be struggling to cope with the demands of everyday life. Many of these young people come from disadvantaged and sometimes abusive backgrounds. Often they leave school with few or no qualifications and facing disadvantageous circumstances or issues. For them, finding employment presents a huge challenge.

The trustees of The Michael Varah Memorial Fund (‘MVMF’) – in collaboration with the Schutz Engel Trust – were impressed by the effectiveness of the E&E service in helping young people who are NEET to become independent adults able to integrate and contribute to society and progress their own lives in a positive way. The Memorial Fund was set up to continue the work of Michael Varah, Chief Probation Officer of Surrey until 2004, who devoted himself to the criminal justice system for over 35 years. The Fund supports projects that work to alleviate disadvantage and social exclusion, homelessness and poverty and to support those who promote rehabilitation work with ex-offenders and human rights.

Sally Varah, MVMF Chair, said of this project, “Providing essential training and life skills to enable homeless young people to get back into education, training or work has never been more vital. Outcomes from the first year pilot of this Employment & Education project were so impressive that MVMF had no hesitation in agreeing to provide funding for Step by Step to continue this life changing work – and for us to introduce the international Schutz Engel Trust to provide much of the funding.”

This financial support enables Step by Step to continue the E&E service, focusing on addressing the issues a young person faces when seeking to gain employment or further education. The E & E service runs a number of supportive projects including Job Shop. This provides training in presentation skills, including completing job applications, CV writing and preparing for and undertaking interviews as well as helping clients to plan for the future and apply for opportunities appropriate to their skills and aptitudes. Daylight Designs is a Craft & Business Skills Development project in which craft products are designed, manufactured, marketed and sold entirely by young people. The project aims to improving maths and literacy skills and gives invaluable experience and insights into operating a small business, boosting self-confidence and communications skills.

The programme runs against a backdrop of current economic hardship and high youth unemployment following the recession. With labour market statistics showing that 17.6% of young people aged 16-25 in the population are unemployed – compared with 6.2% of 25-49 year olds and only 4.7% of over 50s – these services are all the more vital in successfully supporting young people to stay motivated and to overcome this trend.

Central to the E&E programme are one-to-one coaching sessions with staff that are vital to the success of the project and young people’s progression. This support focuses on the particular needs of individuals, helping them to plan their next steps which may include undertaking some form of work experience or getting involved in voluntary work opportunities.

The pilot project helped young people like S, who was 17 when she first became homeless due to problems at home with her family and started accessing Step By Step. Through the E&E programme she was supported to sign up and complete her European Computer Driving Licence and to gain some temporary employment over the Christmas period

Step by Step continued to work with S within the programme to build her confidence and soft skills. She went on to gain a part time and then full time job in a role that she wanted to do. Result: S is now working in a full time job and is living independently

For more information please contact Charlotte Burley on 01252 332514 or email charlotte.burley@stepbystep.org.uk.

©2010 Step by Step Partnership Ltd   :   Reg. Charity No. 900308    :   Company No. 2431825