Support into work, education and training

Three European funded projects have helped change the lives of thousands of people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by giving them the confidence they need to get into work, education and training.

Part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth programme and delivered by the CSW group, the three projects – Cornwall Skills for Young People, ICAN and the Family and Community Essential Skills project – have, between them, supported more than 1,500 individuals and businesses over the past two years.

Aimed at young people aged between 15 and 24 who are not in work, education or training, the Cornwall Skills for Young People project provides a wide range of training opportunities to help them build their confidence and resilience and support them to overcome their personal barriers.

Launched in September 2016, the project has so far helped 567 young learners to achieve 839 new qualifications.

One of the young people who has benefited from the project is 23 year old Sharina Timms who was fed up with working in pubs and bars and wanted to do something different, possibly working in an office environment, and to have a career.

CSW helped her to find a place on a pre employment into health care course which was being run by Dynamo Health Care. The aim of the three week course was to help build people’s confidence and give them skills to apply for a job or an apprenticeship. Having successfully completed the course Sharina was feeling optimistic about the future when she discovered that Dynamo was planning to take on an apprentice.

“Thanks to the skills I had learnt on the course I felt confident in applying for the placement and was thrilled when I discovered that I had been successful,” said Sharina.

Sharina started her apprenticeship last November and is due to finish her placement in the next few weeks – slightly earlier than expected as she is having a baby and will be going on maternity leave before the official end date, having completed a Level 2 qualification in business administration. She will then be returning to the company after completing her maternity leave – this time in a full time permanent role.

“A year ago I did not know what I wanted to do and now I will be coming back to a ‘real job’ with a future,” she said.  “The pre employment course gave me the skills and confidence to apply for the apprenticeship and set me on the right path.”

 “Skills for Young People is an example of great partnership working in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,” said Cathie Kessell, Employment and Apprenticeship Officer for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. “The project is helping young people at an important stage of their lives, providing them with the confidence, skills and resilience to look forward and plan and shape their future careers.”

 The ICAN National Careers Service Enhancement 25+ project is targeted at people over the age of 25 who are already in work and is designed to help them progress and increase their pay and working hours or obtain better quality higher paid jobs.

Launched in January 2018, the project provides careers advice and guidance, personal development planning, skills development, learning and mentoring on an individual basis to help people develop their skills and enhance their future career prospects.

All those taking part in the project are assigned a key worker who provides them with individual and flexible support which meets their needs and encourages them to move into further training, education, apprenticeships or employment opportunities. Support ranges from helping people to improve their confidence and communication skills and coaching and mentoring, to acquiring new skills and qualifications.

So far the project has supported 373 employed learners to achieve 839 new qualifications.

Steve is one of the people who has gained additional qualifications as a result of taking part in the project. Having moved to Cornwall from Surrey, where he had been caring some members of his family, he discovered that his time out of the work force meant he had some gaps in the skills he needed to find the right job.

As a result of taking part in the project, he completed courses in education and training, food hygiene, health and safety and management supervision which, together with his existing qualifications and experience, means he can now offer training courses to others. He is now setting up his own business and has already been contacted by a number of potential clients.

“The training I received as a result of ICAN has given me a springboard to get on with my life,” said Steve. “The qualifications have provided building blocks which I can now use to go in lots of different directions.”

“ICAN is an example of how European funding has helped those in work in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to gain more skills and qualifications; not only benefiting them as individuals, but also helping businesses get the skills they need to grow their businesses,” said Cathie Kessell.

Open to people over 16 who are employed, unemployed or who have recently been made redundant, the Family and Community Essential Skills project supports individuals to gain new skills and qualifications.

Learners can choose from a wide range of training opportunities, from bespoke learning packages to courses in body massage, kitchen management or coaching multi skills sports.

Launched in January 2018, the project has so far helped learners to enrol on 1,052 new qualifications.

“This project has enabled many people of all ages and backgrounds, whether already in work or those wishing to enter work, to gain valuable skills,” said Cathie Kessell, “Helping them to progress in their chosen career or job and, for some, it will be the start of their journey to further learning and qualifications.”

Paul Hobson, the Chief Executive of the CSW group, is thrilled with the success of the three projects which, he says, have already changed the lives of more than 1,500 people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“By helping people to gain new skills and qualifications and improving their confidence these projects are making a real difference to their lives,” he said. “I am very proud of the part that CSW is making and we look forward to continuing to work with the Growth Programme and with local employers and training providers to reach even more people over the coming months and years.”