Career Connect, St Helens Borough Council, and voluntary sector organisations worked in partnership after identifying a gap in provision
Funded by the Community Renewal Fund, Pathways to Employment aligned with the aims of the St Helens Borough Strategy, St Helens Economic Recovery Plan and LCR Build Back Better.
St Helens has high levels of deprivation and has been hit extremely hard by the impact of Covid.
Pathways to Employment sought to bridge the gap for academic age 18-year-olds who were on the cusp of, or were ineligible for, standard provision for 16–17-year-olds, but who were too young or found it difficult to access adult employability services .
A high proportion were classed as ‘economically inactive’ – among the furthest away from employment, education or training – and faced significant barriers. Home visits from advisers, and a focus on personal choice, were an essential part in removing these barriers and building trust.
Factors critical to success:
- A proven relationship-based model with a trusted adviser, enhanced for 18-year-olds. A focus on hope for the future and career planning. Active listening, trauma-informed support, help obtaining ID, referrals to mental health support and more.
- A discretionary fund for transport, equipment and clothing – often invisible barriers – and part-time courses which young people would otherwise not have been able to access.
Take up was high and courses included coding, counselling, teaching assistant, beauty and forensics. One participant set up their own dog walking business as a result.
The outcome:
- 18-year-old NEET figures in St Helens fell to 6.76% from 6.81% in the previous year. With a 16-17-year-old NEET cohort increase from 3.61% to 4.26% in this period, this marked a significant improvement.
- 100 out of a target of 100 participants registered.
- 94 out of a target of 80 improved life skills.
- 87 out of a target of 30 engaged in job search.
- 27 out of a target of 30 moved into employment.
- 26 out of a target of 25 moved into education/training.
- 100% satisfaction score from completed evaluations.
- 93% of young people rated their advisor 10/10 for developing a plan to achieve their goals.
“Feedback from beneficiaries was that it gave young people a sense of hope that they’d lost and presented options they didn’t know were available.”
Delivery partners noted…this project really helped young people navigate adult services in a way they were previously unable to, as they were supported through the process of getting and benefitting from support.”
Metro Dynamics – External evaluation
“It is solely due to the career advice from Kevin that I now know what I would like to do with my life in terms of my education and employment.”
Participant Feedback
