Council cash benefits young job seekers
Monday August 2, 2010
A local charity that helps young unemployed people find work has been given a cash boost by the council to expand its services in the borough.
Spear, which is based at St Paul’s Centre in Macbeth Street, Hammersmith, has been awarded £149,500 to help an extra 180 youngsters aged 16-24 learn job skills, how to give presentations and gain qualifications. Currently 90 young people attend a six-week long course, which runs in six groups throughout the year, but the funding will allow three times as many people onto the course and ultimately into employment.
Executive director, Jo Rice, who has been leading the project since it began six years ago, said: “The course is a mix of teaching young people life skills and building up their confidence, and then job skills such as interview techniques or gaining qualifications. It’s a chance for people to turn their lives around and that’s what they do – this course makes a really big difference.
“This money is allowing us to expand what we’re already doing, but by taking the course to people in their communities, through a ‘hub and spokes’ model.”
The Spear life part of the course will run from two groups – one aimed at young people in White City, at Shepherds Bush Library which is planned to start in January, and another at West Kensington, planned for next spring. The final two job-related modules will continue to run from St Paul’s Centre until the charity moves into St Paul Church’s extension next September.
Jo said: “With Hammersmith United Charities and London School of Economics we spent lots of time researching what the borough needs, and we found that young unemployed people were one of the most vulnerable groups, with the north of the borough in particular needing something like this.
“This is hugely exciting for us and we’re really thrilled that we’re now in a position to go into the community. This is a great opportunity for us. When you’re unemployed, de-motivated and lacking in confidence, even travelling to Hammersmith can be a big effort, whereas if it’s on your doorstep it’s far easier.”
Statistics have shown that more than 80 per cent of people who take up the course go on to find employment, many of them with local businesses. In September, the charity is launching a new social business called SpearHead to encourage local businesses to take on local young people who are on the course for a work experience period with the aim of a permanent job at the end of it. Spear is also looking to expand across London, having already got a course at World’s End in Chelsea.
Councillor Helen Binmore, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This project has already had a huge impact on the lives of young people in the borough and, during these tough economic times, making sure they have the right skills to gain employment really is essential. Spear work closely with their students to build their confidence and make them realise their potential. It’s a really worthwhile project and I am glad we could help them.”
Young people are referred by Connexions, the Probation Service and other agencies to Spear but residents can also sign up to the course themselves. For more information visit www.spearcourse.org (opens new window).
