Tuesday 06 July 2010
A government funded programme in the West Midlands is helping young people
in the region to access training and jobs.
The Kickstart Life initiative is targeting 16 to 19-year-olds who are not
in education, employment or training. The scheme is designed to assess each
young person’s abilities and the training from which they would most
benefit. Basic skills are the focus of the training, including adult
literacy and adult numeracy courses, employability skills and social
development.
One young man who has benefited from the programme is Nathan Martin, who
has recorded his first single at the age of 18 after being referred to
Kickstart by the police. He was tutored in basic skills as well as being
mentored by a renowned music producer.
His tutor Pennie Pengilly said, "As well as developing his music, Nathan is
more confident with his numeracy and literacy, his social skills and is
generally a much happier person. He is determined to leave his old life
behind and I am confident that he will be tremendously successful."
Programmes such as Kickstart Life are helpful as they offer people, who
have been struggling to find work, training options designs specifically
for them. learndirect courses, for example, offer young
people options and choices that will suit their lifestyle and individual
needs. Aside from Kickstart, there are lots of other training grants and
funding options out there to help people get back to work.
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