Background

Prince’s Trust TEAM programme is a 12-week development programme for 16 to 25-year-olds that are not in education, training, or employment. The Groundwork team currently deliver the programme in Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale supporting young people with a range of barriers restricting them from reaching their potential.

2023 marked the 25th year of the programme being delivered by Groundwork in the Greater Manchester region, a charity that has been active in the city region for over 35 years, improving prospects and enhancing neighbourhoods.

Back in 1998, when the programme began, the TEAM programme was simply known as the Prince’s Trust Volunteers Programme, over the years the Groundwork team have adapted to the programme structure, as the needs and circumstances of young people in the country change.

The most recent change has been following the COVID 19 pandemic. Groundwork Team Manager Jill Eckersley commented,

We’ve seen an increase in young people with mental health issues and young people with social anxieties since the pandemic. The young people we’re working with missed two years of school and therefore two years of social interactions and social development.

The programme has always had a focus on supporting young people into employment or further education, however a variety of wrap around support is often required and provided by the Groundwork team.

25 years of achievements

Since the programme began Groundwork have supported 4,400 young people in the Greater Manchester area.

These young people have supported 359 community projects, providing over 20,000 hours of volunteering time to community projects.

This includes Youth Adventure Tameside.  Jamie Findlow, an instructor at Youth Adventure Tameside who added,

We are extremely appreciative of the hard work and transformation that the young people have delivered.  I have been impressed by the young people and how they have collaboratively worked to completely renovate our grounds.  Due to their support and help we will now be able to recommence using the grounds for delivering activities to the young people of Tameside.

Personal Stories

Every young person who takes part in the Prince’s Trust TEAM programme has a unique and important story.

Ric Jones, Team Leader of the Prince’s Trust TEAM programme in Rochdale recalls supporting Ellie Burke in 2022:

Ellie started the programme as a very subdued, withdrawn individual with no direction and little hope for the future.  As Ellie slowly began to trust staff and peers, she started to come out of her shell and excelled at bringing people together and showing real skill with leadership.  As a lone female on a strong Team of loud characters, Ellie was quickly recognised and valued as a respected peer.  It was totally fitting that Ellie would progress to an apprenticeship supporting adults with learning disabilities.  She is so caring and empathic but with the ability to lead people in way that brings out the best in them.

The Prince’s Trust TEAM programme really helped Ellie confirm what she wanted to do with the future and helped her recognise the things that she was good at.

After the programme she gave some of her time to support the Prince’s Trust registration days and encouraged other young people to join, inspiring them with her own personal story of progress and achievement on Team and beyond.  Ellie started an apprenticeship in Adult Social Care with Rochdale Gateway Leisure, supported by Rochdale Training. She has gone from strength to strength, even going on to win the regional apprentice of the year in 2023.

We spoke to Ellie who said,

Prior to the Team programme I was depressed and stuck inside.  I had lost my way after my dad passed away in 2019.  It left me with a very heavy sadness that affected my mental health.  Joining Groundwork Prince’s Trust was the best thing I could have done.  After initially feeling very reluctant, I soon settled and made friends.  Taking part in the activity week and the community project gave me the opportunity to lead the team and everyone said I was a natural.  This was a huge boost to my confidence to see that I was trusted in this way.  I was a positive role model to everyone and this helped me realise that a career caring for adults with learning and physical disabilities was what I wanted to do.  I was accepted on an apprenticeship through Rochdale Training with Rochdale Gateway Leisure and I continue to learn and grow every day.  I absolutely love it.  My family have noticed a massive difference in me and I am now enjoying my life and feel excited about my future.

Other stories from Prince’s Trust TEAM programme