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Into the World of Work |
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Towards a successful working life:
The gulf between young people’s experience and the world of work can be vast. Foundations for Life proposes a flexible, phased approach to closing that gap before young people move on to an independent life, supported by employers and institutions for education and training.
Once young people’s immediate needs have been met by providing them with a safe place to call home, the Lifewise programme can help them develop strong foundations for their future life. However, once a young person has embarked upon that programme, they need additional support to develop work-related personal skills (for example, appropriate communication, time management, relationship management in the workplace, team working), and to find out about job possibilities. Research shows that the majority of young people move into work which is in a similar field to their parents’ careers. However, without suitable role models, young people may be stranded without an idea of realistic employment prospects, or of their likes and dislikes.
The first stage in the programme, therefore, is to provide Centrepoint training (the Work-Wise programme) to help young people develop personal work-related skills, along with a programme delivered with partner organisations, of:
• occupational “taster days”
• short-term work experience
• work on projects and team activities
• where necessary, improving literacy and numeracy
Foundations for Life partners will be employers of substance in the property industry.
Foundations for Life will help young people to evaluate and gain confidence from their experiences and to develop a sense of purpose and ambition which will lead them to the next stage: searching for training and work opportunities in their chosen occupation.
We will provide assistance with preparing a CV, finding opportunities, preparing job applications and preparing for interviews, but extra help is needed from partners to improve many young people’s position in the jobs market, including:
• opportunities for work with occupational training
• access to formal apprenticeship schemes
Finance is a big consideration for many young people moving from the Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) to a wage income. First, many young people have historic debts from their previous insecure life and cannot draw on savings or credit to bridge the period between leaving JSA and receiving their pay. Second, the Housing Benefit system is sluggish in responding to short-term changes in the young person’s income. The need to maintain rent and living expenses, together with new expenses for travel to work and work clothes can present a considerable deterrent which we would like to tackle through a scheme of interest-free loans and grants.
Finally, we want to start reducing young people’s dependence on outside support and broadening their experience of friendly, encouraging young adults. These are people who are willing to share the fruits of their experience at work with a young person in an informal context and to build a relationship with them which could be sustained beyond their stay with Centrepoint. Volunteer schemes with partner employers whereby their staff take on such a role will be a crucial part of the programme.
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