The Youth Vision Project aims to increase young people’s chances of having ‘better futures’ through developing employability and enterprise skills.
During April to June 2016 the project engaged with 9 participants and 5 were eligible to proceed on the programme. The 5 participants received personal development and confidence building and were given the opportunity to attend business workshops to learn about business and to network with clients and increase their confidence and communication skills. They regularly attended meetings with team members and worked with a variety of different people to build on their team working skills.
The participants carried out work experience in Marketing, Administration, Graphic design and Bookkeeping. They developed and gained new skills in Microsoft Office and other professional tools for example, participants undertaking work experience in Marketing and Administration also learned to use Serif, a new software package to create marketing materials such as posters and leaflets. In the HR and Administration work experience role, participants created a new document to help with the initial assessment of young people on the programme. The administration tasks which participants undertook during their work placement helped them to build organisational communication skills, particularly talking to customers over the telephone which was a skills gap that they identified and expressed a keen interest to work on in their initial assessment. Participants also took part in recording a video testimonial of their time on the programme.
One of the young people finished the programme one month into starting because they secured employment in Human Resource Management. Four participants completed their six weeks work experience and one secured employed immediately after completion. One is currently on one month probation to securing full time employment in Administration at the Highlife Centre. One other participant is volunteering at the Centre as a graphic designer shadowing staff and assisting them to develop the Centre’s website and that of business clients; and one participant is currently receiving support with job search. All participants received support with their CV’s and interview skills.
The Highlife Centre is currently waiting for Coventry University Students to Mentor on the programme.
In conclusion, Quarter 1 has been very successful. There has been great outcomes so far, a lot of learning and developing and most importantly the programme is evolving and developing as they learn more about what will be most helpful for the young people. The Highlife Centre is constantly evaluating and asking for the feedback from young people when they are on the programme and after they have completed the programme to ensure that they continue to grow and develop to best meet their needs and help them onto the next step of their journey.
