NEWS: Over 800 young people have received support to help them ‘Progress’
A recent report shows that over 800 young people across Coventry and Warwickshire have had the opportunity to receive tailored support to help them into a job, training opportunity or back into education, thanks to youth employment programme, Progress.
Progress, part of the Building Better Opportunities programme and funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, works with young people who need additional support and are the furthest away from mainstream education or the job market.
From September 2016 to June 2019, the programme worked with 816 young people to help them set future goals, by providing bespoke practical, educational and holistic support.
All young people were assigned a Progress Coach – a mentor who’s there to guide them throughout their whole journey on the programme and to encourage young people to set positive career-oriented and personal goals. Those enrolled on the programme also had the opportunity to pick from a menu of specialist support, including literacy and numeracy qualifications, volunteer opportunities and mental health and wellbeing support.
Out of the young people surveyed, 81% of them now feel more positive about employment prospects, 80% feel more confident and 73% feel they have increased their personal health and wellbeing since being on the programme.
Arianne, 22, who is enrolled on Progress, said:
I’ve always wanted to work with animals but I felt I lacked the confidence and skills to take it forward. Cherelle – my Progress Coach – encouraged me to pursue my passion and enrolled me on a six-week animal care course which I really enjoyed. I’m now in the process of starting my own social action project against animal cruelty, as well as applying for jobs. Since joining Progress my confidence has definitely improved. Cherelle is always on hand to give advice and encourage me to think positively and believe in myself.
Joe, 22, who is also enrolled on the programme, said:
The thing I’ve liked the most from my time on Progress is the fact that it’s one-to-one. I like that every course I’ve been put forward for, and support I’ve received is personalised to me and my future. Bob – my Progress Coach – has been an excellent influence in my life and he’s very supportive towards what I need – he’s not a robot, which I’ve found to be the case on other courses and programmes I’ve tried. I enjoy working in IT and with computers, so my next step is to find a job or apprenticeship that will help me with this. I feel a lot more motivated now and feel proud that I have more on my CV that will help me to get a job.
Andy Harrison, Head of Contracts at Groundwork UK, said:
We are delighted that Progress has and will continue to support young people across Coventry and Warwickshire. The tailored support that the programme provides is vital in helping those most in need of a helping hand to get them on a path towards a happier, healthier and successful future.
Progress has recently announced that the programme has been extended until March 2022, with an extra £2.8m of support to offer young people across the region. To find out more, please visit the Progress website.
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact media@groundwork.org.uk or call 0121- 237-5815.
About Building Better Opportunities
The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to 6 of 8 communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life. Website │Twitter │Facebook │Instagram
Progress has received £5,636,800 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
About Progress
Progress offers a tailored programme of coaching and support to help NEET young people access training and employment opportunities. Progress is targeted at those who are the furthest away from getting work, training or back into education. It does this by providing one-to-one help to find a job, to get them back into education or to support the delivery of practical living skills, mental health support and maths and English qualifications: www.groundwork.org.uk/progress