We've received Youth Guarantee Trailblazer funding
We are celebrating being awarded a £36,500 grant from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Youth Guarantee Trailblazer initiative. The funding will allow us to expand our services, providing enhanced support for young people and helping even more of them access training and employment opportunities.
As part of the project funded by the initiative, we will employ a peer mentor for the 16-25-year-olds we support, as well as expanding our 'Introduction into Work' programme for young people. This programme will be delivered from the Peterborough United Foundation's new Youth Hub at the Weston Homes Stadium, which has also been funded through the CPCA Youth Guarantee Trailblazer initiative.
We will also build on the success of this year's Youth Employment Conference that we held at ARU Peterborough with a one day conference at the same venue aimed specifically at 16-18 year olds. This conference will address the needs of this age group directly with mentoring and mock interviews, as well as offer assistance with confidence building and help participants plan their future careers. Conference attendees will also be offered the opportunity to attend further one to one support sessions and virtual work experience opportunities. The conference will be supported by local partners including Inspire 2 Ignite, ELSA and the Role Model Coaching Academy.
We currently run a wide ranging programme of courses and groups to help people of all ages into work and training. We work with partner organisations and employers from across the region to help end worklessness and reduce unemployment, with targeted, practical help. Last year our youth employment programme supported 26 under 25s into work and our Careers Club helped more than 120 Peterborough residents of all ages into full and part time jobs.
Our Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said: “This grant is a huge help to the young people of Peterborough and will increase the support we will be able to give them in accessing work and training opportunities. We know that strong communities are built around financial security and pride in personal and collective achievements, and having high levels of employment goes a long way to achieving that. By offering young people the targeted assistance they need we will be able to empower them to start their adult lives from the strongest possible position. I couldn't be more delighted that we are able to do this.”
Mayor Paul Bristow said: “Building on the successful launch of the Youth Employment Hub, this is further support to break down barriers and get young people ready for good jobs. Every young person in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough should have access to the opportunities, support and confidence they need to succeed. Our Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is helping make sure no young person feels left behind. By working in partnership with Cross Keys Homes and others, we're unlocking brighter futures.”
Find out more about our support to help young people into work