Published: Friday 19 August 2022
The new Covid-19 Youth Employment Support (YES) programme in Kensington and Chelsea will provide £1.25 million over the next three years to help young people into work.
Through the new funding, over 750 residents aged 16 to 25 will be able to access projects with support to become job ready, provide coaching and connect them with new opportunities.
Cllr Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Economy and Employment, said:
“During the pandemic, almost two out of three job losses were experienced by people aged 16 to 25 so this funding is targeted to help younger residents who need it most.
“Providing access to quality employment and skill building is a top priority for the Council and it’s a fantastic joint effort to work with our excellent local partners to deliver these projects.”
Cllr Catherine Faulks, Lead Member for Family and Children’s Services said:
“Opening up more opportunities for our young people outside of school and getting access to work-based learning is invaluable. These programmes will open doors for hundreds of our residents, especially those who might face barriers due to the pandemic or their personal circumstances.”
Projects are being commissioned through the Council’s teams and five voluntary and community sector partners; Mama Youth, Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Mind, Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea, The Harrow Club and Rugby Portobello Club.
Young people aged 16 to 25, not currently in employment, education and or training (NEET), in insecure employment, or those who are likely to be disadvantaged in the labour market as a result of the pandemic are encouraged to check out the projects and see what could help them.
- Programmes available
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Mama Youth Project is recruiting young creatives aged 18-25 year olds considering a career in the digital media sector to join an intensive six-week Digital Media Training course focusing on the skills most valued in the digital media sector. After completing the six weeks students will have the opportunity gain real experience in the sector through a two-week industry work placement.
Later in the year Mama Youth Project will be running a five-day Media Employment Awareness Course to showcase the breadth of career options available in the media sector. This is open to 15-18 year olds with low levels of employment skills or confidence who are curious to learn about careers within the media sector. This will take place at the Sky Studios with travel and lunch costs covered. The programme will be available from the Autumn, with dates to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The contact for both projects is Mariana Magnavita: [email protected], or [email protected], 07869 215 301, or visit https://www.mamayouth.org.uk.
Harrow Club: The additional YES funding will allow the Harrow Club to provide integrated employment support within its existing “Another Way” project supporting 16-25 year olds. The existing project which provides late night provision (8 to 11pm) targeted to young people involved in gangs, criminality and antisocial behaviour to support them to transition away from harmful lifestyles will be expanded to include training in some the opportunity for young people to achieve accreditation in key skills including: SIA security accreditation, CIS Construction card, CBT Bike Testing, and driver's license. Provision will run at the North Kensington and Chelsea Youth clubs.
Contact Liam Clipsham at [email protected], or on 0208 969 252, or visit https://harrowclub.org/.
KCW Mind's “Get Set Go!” will create additional capacity to support 16-24-year-olds who are experiencing mental health and emotional wellbeing support needs that mean they are not yet work ready.
“Get Set Go!” will reach out to young people to help to break the cycle of health inequalities, social deprivation and social exclusion and provide young people support that helps them to progress to training and/or employment and build strong, sustainable futures. Contact Fiona Hill: [email protected], or on 020 8964 1333, or visit https://www.kcmind.org.uk.
Kensingtom and Chelsea Council (Targeted Prevention Team) supports young people aged 16-25 years who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) to increase their confidence and resilience to engage with opportunities.
The YES funding will create additional capacity to expand group sessions and 1-1 support work with NEET young people (and young people at risk of becoming NEET). This will include enhanced careers and employment advice, extended mentoring and coaching, brokering work experience opportunities, opportunities to achieve accreditation, and provide direct help and assistance (e.g. CV writing, money and budgeting skills).
Contact: [email protected] or call 020 7938 8033.
The SEND Volunteering Project will be delivered by Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea (VCKC). This will extend their “Stepping Stones” project, creating a person-centred voluntary work placement scheme open to young people aged 16-25 with special education need or disability (SEND). The project is open to young people living in the community, including possible NEET and those currently in education but seeking experience.
VCKC will work with young people to complete a vocational profile, prepare the young person with skills they will need in the placement. Young people will be matched with a volunteering placement that meets their needs and vocational profile, which will be for between 2 to14 hours per week for a period lasting between 6 weeks to 1 year. Ongoing support to young people will be available throughout the length of the placement.
Contact Louisa Schepes: [email protected], or on 020 8960 3722, or visit https://voluntarywork.org.uk.
Rugby Portobello Club’s “Future Ready RBKC” will create additional capacity for Rugby Portobello Trust to extend and enhance their personalised 1:1 programme to 19-25 year olds.
The personalised programme, lasting between 3 to 6 months, will combine intensive 1:1 employment support with training and work experience opportunities (including pathways within fashion and design, photography, welding and opportunities with local partners such as Chestersons Estate Agents and the Notting Hill Carnival).
Contact: [email protected], or call 07707 290154, or visit www.rugbyportobello.org.uk/.
Kensington and Chelsea Council (Economic Development Team) “QuickStart” is a local extension of the government’s Kickstart programme which closed to applicants in March 2022. Quickstart creates the opportunity for the council and local employers to support young people aged 16-24 who were not previously eligible for the Kickstart scheme. Like Kickstart young people will benefit from paid 6-month work placements, with placements secured through employer engagement activity including previous ‘Kickstart’ employers and new organisations. Opportunities will be promoted to young people through the Targeted Prevention Team, Leaving Care Team, SEND Local Offer, with potential applicants supported by the Faces Team and Job Centre Plus.
Support will be available before, during and after the placement. Contact: [email protected] or call 020 7361 3271.
The Placement to Job Start Support project will be run by Families and Communities Employment Service (FACES / K&C Council Economic Development Team). FACES, who have been supporting Families into employment, training and volunteering in Kensington and Chelsea since 2014, will support young Kensington and Chelsea residents aged 16-24 years old who are successful in their Kickstart (and Quickstart) placement by helping them prepare for their job start and ensure a smooth process to their first day. They will also sustain their placement via in-work support; and provide ongoing support to find a job if the candidate is not retained at the end of their placement.
Contact Muhammod Hussain: [email protected] or [email protected], or call 07931 548 280, or visit webtest.rbkc.gov.uk/faces.
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For general enquiries on the Youth Employment Support projects please contact Sabera Begum at [email protected].