The Prince’s Trust Team Programme in Sittingbourne has been awarded £900 by Swale Borough Council to support youth employment in the area. The generous donation followed a recent visit by Councillor James Hall to the team of Swale young people who are currently completing the programme.
The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a 12 week development programme run by south-east charity CXK. The programme is open to anyone in the local area aged 16-25 and not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The personal development programme helps participants uncover their hidden talents and improve their confidence. It gives them the chance to go on an action-packed trip to an outbound activity centre and develop their Maths and English skills. They go on to build work-related skills including communication, teamwork, job searching, and leadership. Participants then give back to their communities by volunteering, raising awareness and fundraising for causes that matter to them. Finally, they benefit from a two week work experience placement in their field of interest.
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.
The team will use the money to fund an activity trip for the next Swale programme, which starts in April. The trip will provide local young adults with the opportunity to build confidence and team working skills by taking part in a range of adrenaline fuelled activities.
Cllr James Hall said, “Helping vulnerable people from difficult backgrounds and getting them into work or education is so important. We need to continue to support this kind of activity. Therefore we’re delighted to be able to offer this donation to help develop this programme and support the great work of CXK.”
Bliss Winspear-Barrett, Team Leader of the programme in Sittingbourne, commented, “We’re so grateful to Councillor Hall for this generous donation. The programme is a brilliant way for unemployed young adults to find a new direction. It helps them build the skills and confidence they need to find employment, and for many it’s absolutely life changing. 80% of the people who take part in the programme move into work, or go on to further training or education. So the results really do speak for themselves.”
The next Prince’s Trust Team programme in Sittingbourne will begin on 11th April 2019. For further information, including how to apply, contact: princestrustinfo@cxk.org, or call 07843 287787.
