We’re delighted to announce CXK has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Kent Charity Awards ‘Large Charity of the Year’ category. CXK is one of only 3 finalists, with the winner to be announced on Thursday 8th September.
CXK was shortlisted following a rigorous judging process, involving a 4,000-word written submission in which the team discussed its successes over the course of the last year. Those successes included:
The charity’s success in diversifying and delivering new initiatives to support the changing needs of individuals, resulting from the impact of COVID-19, including the new Step Up, Bridge the Gap and Get Connected programmes;
Transitioning programme delivery to hybrid models of working – offering support face-to-face and virtually, to suit the needs and circumstances of the beneficiary
Collaborating with employers and organisations such as Department for Work and Pensions, training providers and AGCAS to deliver a broad range of webinars and events to support audiences in their career journeys, making recordings available on YouTube to enhance accessibility;
Strengthening our media relations to offer expert opinion via radio and TV channels on various topics;
Building strong and effective partnerships with key influencers and policy makers, helping CXK foster the needs and voice of beneficiaries, ensuring that the requirements of individuals and Kent communities remains high on the political agenda.
Our priority to support those most impacted by COVID-19 resulted in exceptional success in beneficiary impact and outcomes, including:
- 29,000 individuals accessing National Careers Service through a multi-channel approach (face-to-face, phone, email, web, social media). Support was provided to the most disadvantaged individuals including 18-24 NEETs (not in education, employment, or training), low-skilled adults, long-term unemployed, single parents, adults with special educational need/disability and adults aged 50+ unemployed or at risk of unemployment. We supported 95% of customers to develop their career management skills, take control of their lives and increase their aspirations to work or train, with 100% customer satisfaction rate.
- Our prison IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) service supported 5,500 individuals across 10 prisons. We designed a curriculum to support prison residents with structured pathways of education, work, and training. Careers advisers supported residents on 1:1 and group basis, developing confidence and skills, producing personal learning plans influenced by individuals’ career aspirations.
- ASK supported 205,000 students, 18,500 parents and 6,400 teachers; working with 1,100 schools across the South region to promote awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships.
- The Youth Employability Service (YES) delivered 1:1 employability support to 3,500 young people aged 16-18 who were NEET or at risk of being NEET, helping them overcome barriers and move into education, employment, or training.
- Bridge the Gap works to provide bespoke employability support to 300 unemployed individuals, partnering with employers to connect them with their communities and the workplace. The aim: for all individuals to build life skills and achieve a learning, training, or work outcome.
- Step Up is partnering with local organisations, delivering bespoke training programmes to engage 1,275 NEET 16-24-year-olds in Kent, Medway, East Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, and Southend; supporting them to build skills, confidence, and improve their access and pathways to employment.
- Get Connected, a programme supporting young people with autistic spectrum conditions, is working with 60 young people. The programme will also host 9 “Taster Days” by August 2022, providing 450 young people and their families the opportunity to complete health and wellbeing activities in their communities.
Pauline Smith, CEO, said: “This is absolutely amazing news and testament to the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff. I am so, so, proud of everyone and hope you share my excitement and joy at this incredible recognition of our wonderful charity and staff.”
For further information about the awards, visit kentcharityawards.com
