Key to the Village Network is a residential programme that helps to build the team. For the women, we went to a hotel for 24 hours. Understood that the young men needed more of a challenge, we went on weekend residential. Quite a challenge some of the young men couldn’t attend because they had to attend court.
Apart from a few dissenting voices, the residential was a success with many benefits.
Our first group session was very successful. With over 20 participants. We had four very successful black businessmen talking about themselves, their expenses and their achievements. It was very interesting but what transpired was that they were living in different worlds. The young people we are working with lack the self-belief, even if they have the support and encouragement.
The programme ends in December and we wanted this opportunity to share and discuss some of what has emerged from the programme it self, before carrying out the final evaluation.
I will speak about some of the awareness with Dave focussing on what we consider to be the solutions.
We signed up 22 young people to the programme, 9 attended the residential held in Wales.
The age of the young men we are working with range between 16 and 25.
ISSUES YOUNG MEN ARE FACING: AND WHAT MAKES THEM A CHALLENGING GROUP TO WORK WITH.
- Having a criminal record.
- Homelessness
- Not making the best use of resources available. Wont sign on because of questions being asked, i.e. how they are living?
- Not having a good enough C.V. which shows work experience or otherwise.
- Reliance on agency work because easier than going through the process of finding a permanent job, i.e. references etc.
- Having skills, but no real work experience
- Low self confidence or self esteem
- Some lack of parental support and guidance
- Impact of Government legislation, i.e. training in security work which they have to have a licence, 7,000 before licence, if any 4,000 afterwards.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO ASSIST THEM
- Group meetings with role models
- Support in completing application forms
- One on one guidance and support
- Provided them with information around career development
- Helped with CV
- Job preparation / personal presentation wearing trainers to an interview for a Job in Administration
- Assisting with housing needs
Ten out of the 22 signed on to college courses in.
- Construction
- Music
- Carpentry
- Counselling
- IT
- Sports and Leisure
One out of the ten was asked to leave and is now working.
Four have found work in a warehouse, the construction industry and retail.
Seven including one young lad with special needs who had been living in a hostel appears to have disappeared. No contact by phone, not returning calls, calls not being answered, no trace.
Five young people have homeless issues, which affects their ability to hold down a steady job.
One found work but was unable to get a bank account and we lost contact with him since then.
This trucking has been crucial which will allow us to see the programme as a success. Dave now talk about solutions to some of the challenging issues we faced.