Southwark youth employment scheme receives official launch
Published 21 December 2011
Young people have praised a pioneering Southwark Council scheme which is helping them into jobs and training.
Council chiefs have invested £350,000 into the Southwark Employment Training Scheme for residents aged 16 to 24 seeking employment.
Under the scheme the council will help 1,500 young people improve their job prospects over the next three years.
The scheme was formally launched at local charity Red Kite Learning on 16 December.
Speaking at the launch, Sammy Mehmet, 24, who recently signed up to the project, said: "This project has changed my life and without it I would not have any direction. I find it so rewarding."
Tony Coverdale, 21, said: "I'm confident that this project will provide me with all the necessary skills to secure a job."
Craig Barley, 24 added: "This project is really good and I think that it can help you fulfil your ambitions."
Catherine McDonald, cabinet member for Children's Services said:
"It was an absolute pleasure to visit Red Kite Learning and meet some of the young people who are making a positive difference to their lives with our employment training scheme."
Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy said:
"Young people in Southwark are facing tough challenges when it comes to looking for work but I'm very confident they have the skills and knowledge to excel in our project and a future employment.
"I would urge our local businesses to sign up to the Southwark Employment Training Scheme and take advantage of the opportunity to find potential new employees."
Other organisations signed up to the employment scheme include the South Bank Employers Group, who will provide work placements, skills training and job opportunities with over 70 local employers, the Creation Trust who will deliver retail training and work placements including a pop-up shop run by young people on the project and the Horniman Museum and Gardens who will offer gardening and customer service work placements.
To qualify for the programme, participants need to be a Southwark resident, between 16 - 24 years of age and looking for work.
Southwark residents and employers who want to get involved in the Southwark Employment Training Scheme can visit file://www.southwark.gov.uk/jobs for more information.
