On Friday 28th June, Damian Green, MP for Ashford, joined a group of unemployed local young people taking part in CXK’s Prince’s Trust Team programme. The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a personal development programme which provides unemployed 16-25 year olds with the chance to take on new challenges, take a qualification, make long-lasting friendships and develop vital skills that will help them to find work
The team of 16 were at the end of their tenth week of the programme. They had spent their first ‘Induction’ week getting to know one another and planning for the weeks ahead. Their second ‘Residential’ week was then spent at an outbound activity centre. There, they took part in a range of activities designed to bond them as a team, and develop their confidence. Those activities included canoeing, climbing, raft building and more.
In their third and fourth weeks, they had planned and delivered a project to benefit their local community. This involved them working with Kent Wildlife Trust to revive Hothfield Heathlands; exposing heather and restoring what has become a threatened habitat. They then went on to benefit from individual work experience placements within their career field of interest. The participating employers included Dobbies, Age UK, The Entertainer and Sussex Police.
Mr Green joined the Team for their review of the successes and learning points of the project. The group also took the opportunity to ask Mr Green about knife crime in the Ashford area; and to ask questions about his political career.
Mr Green said: “It was great to meet a group of young people so motivated to make their best of their lives. They were all clear that they had benefitted from the course, and saw it as a key stepping stone to a job, college, or university. I congratulate CXK and the Prince’s Trust for giving them the opportunity to progress.”
Team is a personal development programme which provides unemployed 16-25 year olds with the chance to take on new challenges, take a qualification, make long-lasting friendships and develop vital skills that will help them to find work. The programme is completely free of charge and doesn’t affect participants’ Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit. Travel costs are paid, and individuals may even be entitled to meals and bursary payments.
CXK runs programmes in Ashford, Sittingbourne and Dartford. For further information, visit here, email princestrustinfo@cxk.org, or call 07918 692885.
