Community project helps young people back into work

Six Town Housing has funded a successful initiative to help local young people into employment in Bury.

Six Town Housing funded a pilot project, teaming up with Clearaims, an organisation that uses various creative learning techniques to help young people back into education, employment and training.

Recruitment to the course took around three weeks as Six Town Housing established which tenants fell within the right age range (16-24) and visited properties to establish if they were classified as NEET*.  As a result, eight young people signed up to the course.

Six Town Housing agreed with Victoria Tenants and Residents Association (Whitefield) use of their community building for a week as it is centrally located on the estate. It was only a short walk for all attendees, ensuring they could easily attend.

Before the course commenced, each attendee participated in an online assessment with the course trainer. This assessment gave the team a profile of the individuals - their likes and dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, learning style and personal barriers. This information enabled the trainer to tailor the course appropriately.

The assessment prior to the course showed that desires and aspirations at the beginning of the week were low, as was self esteem.

The course focused on social awareness, motivation self image, self esteem, and body language. The group were coached in essential life skills and the sessions promoted positive attitudes that would help them to increase their individual abilities to achieve their goals in life.

Professional interview techniques and CV tips were shared and the group were given the opportunity to bond and were encouraged to open up both with staff and each other.  The group began show solidarity throughout the course, thriving off the way they had been inspired and supported throughout the week.

At the end of the week the group members completed another on line assessment which contained the same questions they had answered at the beginning of the week, to show any improvements made. Scores showed that motivation and self esteem soared and the group did not want the course to end. One group member who had, Kalum Buller said “I am buzzing - even I want to get a job now!”

Jonathan Acton, who also took the course, said “Does the course have to end? I have been wanting to get myself out there for such a long time now - if you hadn't knocked on my door and come back again to speak to me I never would have had the confidence to come along. Thanks!”

The participants are now meeting with Claire Rogan, Community Development Worker for Six Town Housing, every Wednesday to continue their development.

Though the course has only recently finished, one member has taken a job opportunity in I.T, two members will be doing a work placement with Six Town Housing caretakers and one in their I.T department. Two other members have shown interest in apprenticeship opportunities in digital media and marketing - all provided by Six Town Housing.

Claire Rogan of Six Town Housing said “It’s such a unique way of learning that we are happy to support. It takes into account different individual learning styles and brings the best out of young people – you can see by the results! We are really keen to support the development of young people across Bury and that’s what exactly what this kind of project does.”

The young people will soon be embarking on their next project - creating a video of their experience of the course and how they have been inspired. After seeing how successful the project was, Six Town Housing is now looking into more opportunities to carry out similar initiatives in Bury.

END

*Note to editor

NEET – Not in Employment, Education or Training.

Richard Eden

Communications and Marketing Advisor

Business Improvement and Customer Focus

Six Town Housing

0161 686 8018

R.Eden@sixtownhousing.org

Six Town Housing is an arms length management organisation (ALMO) set up in April 2005 to manage Bury Council's housing stock and a range of other assets, including garages, shops and a number of community facilities.

We provide a wide range of services to our customers, directly and through service level agreements, contracts and partnerships.