(Attachment: 11)Report (149K/bytes)
Transcription
(Attachment: 11)Report (149K/bytes)
COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT REPORT TO: LEADER AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – 22ND APRIL 2015 REPORT SUBJECT: PROGRESS REPORT ON PREVENT 14-19 AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT REPORT AUTHOR: JOANNE SIMS, YOUTH SERVICES MANAGER LEAD OFFICER/ DEPARTMENT CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Summary Report 1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT The purpose of the report is to update the Executive on the progress of the Youth Services Prevent project since the closure of the ESF programme in October 2014 and to be made aware of service continuity proposals highlighted in paragraph 3.6. 2.0 LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGIES - 3.0 Single Integrated Plan Education Improvement Plan Corporate Improvement Plan NEETs Reduction Strategy 2011-2014 Youth Engagement and Progression Framework SUMMARY/PROPOSALS In early 2011, the Prevent 14-19 team was appointed, consisting of 1 Co-ordinator and 6 Prevent Youth Workers. The Prevent 1419 programme was part of a regional Prevent 14 – 19 programme across five authorities to identify and work with young people who are currently or at risk of becoming disengaged with education, employment or training (NEET). The project was funded by the European Social Fund, WEFO’s Priority 1 programme, which provided three years funding for each of the five authorities with Bridgend County Borough Council being the lead sponsor. 1 Over the three years the local project worked with 806 young people, with numerous positive outcomes. Since the establishment of the Prevent 14-19 programme, Blaenau Gwent has seen a steady reduction in the numbers of young people becoming NEET from 8.7% (74 young people) in 2009/10 to 6.6% (51 young people) in 2010/11 to 4.2% (33 young people) in 2011/12 to 4.6% (34 young people) in 2012/13 and recently 3.9% (28 young people) in 2013/14 (Official Report to be released April 2014.). The overall picture is a steady reduction and we have met the target for this year (target 3.9%). The approach taken by the project has been to work with the young person, addressing all their needs, rather than just their learning. This has resulted in a much more effective, longer lasting positive outcome for the young people. In October 2014, C.M.T agreed to a partial retention of the Prevent programme until the end of financial year 2014/15 to be funded from under spends in the Skills and Work Preparation portfolio. Following March, funding has now been secured for an additional six months via the Regional Collaboration Fund to retain the 3 Prevent youth workers until the next ESF programme, which is hoped to start in September. The new ESF programme will be called Inspire to Achieve. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that Executive Committee: recognises the work of the Prevent project and how it has contributed to the further reduction of young people becoming NEET this year to 3.9%. consider the service continuity proposals identified in paragraph 4. receives further monitoring reports with regards to the Youth Services Prevent project. CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION 2 DETAILED REPORT 1.0 PURPOSE The purpose of the report is to update the Executive on the progress of the Youth Services Prevent project since the closure of the ESF programme in October 2014. 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 This project was part of a regional Prevent 14 – 19 programme across five authorities to identify and work with young people who are currently or at risk of becoming disengaged with education, employment or training (NEET). The project was funded by the European Social Fund, WEFO’s Priority 1 programme, which provided three years funding for each of the five authorities with Bridgend County Borough Council being the lead sponsor. 2.2 The need for this project was identified through the ever increasing numbers of young people who were leaving school and not remaining in education, employment or training. In 2009/10, 8.7% of young people (74 young people) leaving Year 11 in Blaenau Gwent became NEET (not in education, employment or training), the third highest in Wales. There is much proven evidence to show that young people who become NEET at this age are much more likely to struggle to maintain employment or learning as adults and are also at more risk of ill health. Subsequently, the local authority developed its NEETs Reduction Strategy in 2011 which outlines its vision for these young people and set targets to reduce the number of young people becoming NEET at this age. This also formed part of the Local Authority’s Post Estyn Re-inspection Action Plan in 2011 as Recommendation 5 - Work with partners to secure sustainable improvements in the percentage of post 16 learners in full time education training or employment. 2.3 The strategy is now supported by the Welsh Government’s new Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (YEPF), which outlines what Local Authorities are expected to have in place to support young people who are risk or who are currently NEET. 2.4 The Prevent 14-19 programme has been addressing issues of disengagement and raising aspirations and since October 2014 has been supporting young people identified through the Early Identification process, as part of the YEPF. Raising the levels of 3 self-confidence of young learners has been at the heart of this programme, as has the commitment to address basic skills deficits. The Youth Engagement and Progression Framework outlines the approach to supporting these young people and in particular the need to allocate a lead worker to all young people identified in need of support. Currently, the Prevent 14 – 19 Team is the main Lead Worker provider as it is the only dedicated team which focuses on these young people’s needs. 3.0 PRESENT POSITION 3.1 In March 2014, 1160 individuals between the ages of 18-24 were receiving Job Seekers Allowance (also classed as NEET). Since the establishment of the Prevent 14-19 programme, Blaenau Gwent has seen a steady reduction in the numbers of young people becoming NEET from 8.7% (74 young people) in 2009/10 to 6.6% (51 young people) in 2010/11 to 4.2% (33 young people) in 2011/12 to 4.6% (34 young people) in 2012/13 and recently 3.9% (28 young people) in 2013/14 (Official Report to be released April 2014). The Raising Aspirations Group, a strategic multi-agency partnership, has overseen the implementation of the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework and oversees the Prevent function as part of that. This steady reduction is attributed in part to improved communication and planning between partners but particularly to the dedicated focus of the Prevent 14-19 Team. 3.2 Excellent links have been established with appropriate partners including Careers Wales, Coleg Gwent, Work Based learning providers and wider Regeneration, Schools, Inclusion including the Education Welfare Service, Youth Offending Service, Social Services, Communities First and a range of voluntary sector agencies. 3.3 The learning over this period has been that there is no quick fix to supporting vulnerable young people to remain in education, employment or training. When young people are supported holistically, addressing the barriers in their lives and over a longterm period, young people are more able to sustain their place in education, employment and/ or training. 3.4 Since October 2014, 88 young people have been engaged or are continuing to engage with PreVENT support. The main focus of work has been individual support, with group work opportunities running in Abertillery and Brynmawr Comprehensive Schools. 4 Discussions are also in place with Ebbw Fawr Learning Community to offer support for young people who have been identified through the early identification tool and this support will be offered to all schools. Strong links have been made with the under 25’s advisor in Job Centre Plus and referral are made from JCP every week. 3.5 Since September 2014, PreVENT has been continuing the Attendance Project, which is an alternative curriculum for young people in year 11 with extremely low attendance levels. Out of the 9 young people referred, 8 are still successfully engaging and being fully supported with their transition options for post year 11. So far the young people have achieved the following: Healthy Living – Level 1 & Entry 3 Confidence and self esteem – Level 1 Welsh Culture – ACU level Entry 3 Eating disorder – Level 1 Photo Diary ACU – Entry Level 2 Bronze Level Youth Achievement Award Bike Maintenance Course where participants were able to take a working bike home with them to keep They have also completed a variety of units through PSE and are looking at obtaining the equivalent of two GCSE’s by June In addition, all young people are currently working towards: Essential Skills Wales (ESW) English and are on track to complete by June 2015 (Entry Level 3 and Level 1) Two young people are on track to achieve ESW Math (Entry Level 3) by June 2015 Supporting 3 young people to complete their GCSE exams within their school All young people are also attending a two days a week work placement with Grow Educations. They are engaging with a number of activities including boxing, hair and beauty, construction and special effects make up. Feedback from the young people so far is very positive saying the staff are very supportive. The biggest impact on the group has been the increase of attendance levels. There is an average of 98% attendance for the project. The attendance levels of each young person in the previous academic year ranged from 10% to 81%, an average of 5 56%. It is clear to see that the support provided has impacted enormously on the young people’s attendance. 3.6 New Business Plans are being developed for the next round of ESF funding, and the hoped start date for the new programme is September 2015. 4. STATEMENT ON FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 4.1 The interim funding from Education finishes in March 2015, however funding has been secured through the LIFT 14-24 programme, funded by the Regional Collaboration Fund, to retain the support until September 2015. Therefore, there should be no gap in provision if the new ESF programme, Inspire to Achieve, begins in September 2015. 5.0 PROPOSAL 5.1 It is proposed that Executive recognises the work of the Prevent project and how it has contributed to the further reduction of young people becoming NEET this year to 3.9%. 6.0 CONCLUSION 6.1 There has been significant progress with the Prevent Project. The work of the project has helped the authority achieve and surpass its objectives within the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework. CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION 6