Neat way for teens to get vital training (From Gazette)

Nacro aims to support young people who face slipping through education net

9:00pm Tuesday 27th July 2010 in Education By Chris Wilkin

A COUPLE of years ago another annoying bit of Government jargon sneaked into the English language and became a buzzword among politicians.

Hundreds of thousands of young people found themselves labelled “NEETs” – not in employment, Education or training.

Preventing school-leavers from starting their working lives on the dole was seen as a major priority.

But as the recession started to bite, the number of so-called NEETs spiralled.

This time last year, more than 500 youngsters in Tendring weren’t in work, training or education. Almost 17 per cent of the district’s school-leavers were slipping through the net – roughly double the rate for Essex.

Some had no qualifications, others came from tough backgrounds. Many were in danger of ending up on the scrapheap before they were even 20 as the number of unskilled jobs dried up.

More are likely to find themselves in a similar position as they leave school this summer.

But scores have been given a helping hand by special programmes run by Nacro.

The organisation used to specialise in helping ex-offenders but while the name remains the same, its remit is now much broader.

Their Clacton centre, in Oxford Road, runs a range of courses designed to help youngsters by bridging the gap between education and employment.

Teenagers can get help with interview skills, completing their CVs and speaking in public.

Boxing courses are held in Harwich to promote fitness, self-esteem and motivation. And there is a 12-week programme with the Army which builds teamwork and leadership skills.

There is advice on how to cope with living on your own for the first time and information about sexual health.

The 18-week Education to Employment – E2E – programme has proved a big hit with the youngsters who have signed up.

Training organiser Rachel Clutten said: “It’s a really mixed course which enables them to learn all these skills.

“From that, they can progress into employment, training or mainstream colleges.”

Teenagers aren’t forced to go on the course. Some find out about it from friends. Others walk in off the street to give it a go.

“They thoroughly enjoy it and no one leaves here without achieving something.”

The courses are targeted at 16 to 18-year-olds, who often suffer from a problem all too many parents will recognise.

“The biggest hurdle is us getting them out of bed and into here,” said Rachel. “Some young people do struggle to get up, but we have people who come in early because they love it so much.

“We treat them with respect and hope they will do the same to us. The boundaries are set from day one and that’s what we work to.”

It can come as a shock at first for youngsters who have lost routine and self-discipline from their lives.

“To turn their lives around and come in to do a course three days a week, from 10am to 4pm is a major achievement,” said Rachel.

“I can’t express how important it is for them to come here and get something out of it.

“At the end of the Army programme, they get certificates from the Army and some of them have never experienced anything like that before.”

One student who went on to join the Royal Navy described it as the best college in Essex and coined the phrase “If you’re smart, Nacro’s the start”, which is now used on its advertising.

Rachel is proud of their success stories, adding: “One young man who had moved into the area didn’t feel he had a lot going for him. He had low self-esteem and low motivation, but he knew he wanted to do the Army programme and E2E. He had no qualifications and had been in and out of school and excluded, which is quite a common story.

“Now he’s done the community volunteering course and has just become a volunteer here at Nacro.

“From having no structure in his life, he’s had the guts to find out what’s available and has achieved a huge amount.”

Another teenager turned his life around after going on a Rev Up and Go programme run by Youth East.

He built his own motorbike, helped by a qualified mechanic.

“He’s now one of our top students,” said Rachel. “He’s completed his health and safety course, employments skills, community volunteer programme and is also volunteering at Nacro.”

Nacro says the scheme is “vitally important” in helping teenagers find a new focus.

“If we weren’t here, where would these young people go?” said Rachel.

“We’re not just trainers, we’re support workers.”