Local charity Southend YMCA has been awarded a Community Grant to fund a life skills curriculum programme to help vulnerable young people who have experienced homelessness within the local area.
The New Beginnings project will provide accredited and non-accredited learning opportunities. As a result, participating young people’s confidence and self-belief will increase so they begin to trust in their abilities and learn and apply new skills.
Through group and 1:1 sessions the project will support the young people with their emotional, social and personal development; combating isolation, developing teamwork skills and getting them ready for work. The young people will have the opportunity to work on their functional Maths and English. They will also benefit from workshops tailored to their needs – examples could be managing anxiety, time management and presentation skills.
All participants will also benefit from 1:1 information, advice and guidance to support them to plan their future. This will include identifying potential, realistic career paths and further study. It will also cover all aspects of employability from CV writing to interview skills.
CXK has awarded the grant through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) under their Community Grants Scheme via European Social Fund funding (ESF). CXK will be allocating grants of more than £600,000 in total over the course of the next year; grants which are available to organisations which help those furthest from the job market improve their skills and/or get into work or training.
Marina Wright, Education and Training Lead at Southend YMCA, said; “Southend YMCA is very grateful to CXK and the ESF for this valuable resource. It has enabled us to develop a new skills programme to support formerly homeless young people.”
For further information about Southend YMCA, visit: southendymca.org.uk.
