Give & Take
The Scheme works with predominately care experienced young people (aged 16-21) from across NI who have been assessed as being unable to participate in mainstream training and employment opportunities. The Scheme achieves its aims in the following ways:
1. Introduction and Assessment - All young people and their Give and Take key workers undertake a detailed induction and assessment programme where a work plan is agreed between the Scheme, the young person and the young person's social worker. This plan is based on the needs, capabilities and aspirations of each young person and includes a formal introduction to the Careers Service.
2. Supported work placements - All young people are given graduated exposure to responsibility in particular areas of work that interest them. Each placement is individually tailored to address the specific needs of the young person. Skills are learnt in such a way that they build self-esteem. Types of placement include; work with children, the elderly and people with disabilities, manual work such as painting/decorating, mending bikes etc., office work including computer training, plus catering and shop work.
3. Essential skills - For the majority of young people on the scheme literacy and numeracy training or basic ICT training is required. The scheme provides in-house training with our own trained tutors or we use local college tutors. Where it is practical and appropriate we support young people to attend local colleges.
4. Training -Young people are assisted and supported to access job specific technical skills needed to achieve sustained employment.
5. Social education/personal development programme - Young people are supported to explore the wider issues impinging on their lives. This involves a variety of activities both informal and formal. These may include regular drop-ins, assertiveness training, drug and alcohol use, relationships, sexual health, sexuality, independent living skills, identity etc.
6. Social/cultural awareness - Young people are provided with the opportunity for positive social contact in a non-threatening environment. As well as undertaking formal work in areas such as gender awareness and cross community issues we attempt to provide a flexible programme structure that can respond to the needs of young people as they arise, whether it is helping an individual to resolve a crisis situation, or participating in a shared groupwork or leisure activity. We aim to build the self-esteem of young people through this process as well as improve a young person's co-operation skills through the provision of team building activities.
7. Mentoring - All young people will be given the opportunity for additional support by a personal mentor. The mentoring relationship will focus on the personal development of the young person addressing key issues such as interpersonal skills, independence skills and coping skills. The relationship with the mentor will assist the young person in setting and achieving personal goals that will help them towards sustained employment.
8. Employer Liaison - We will develop relationships with employers in both the public and private sectors to increase awareness of the needs of the young people on Give and Take. We will also work with employers to help them create a more supportive working environment for our young people while on placement. This may include the provision of employment mentors from with the employer organisation.
9. Move-on- through continuous engagement with the Careers Service young people are supported to access mainstream opportunities including Training for Success (Job Ready), full and part-time further education and employment.
By providing psychological and social supports for young people as they learn, the scheme acts as a positive experience for such young people who characteristically have been treated as "no hopers" by one institution after another. The experience of success can be transferred from one situation to another as the person starts to believe in his/her own capabilities. For example, young people on the scheme often become much better at advocating for their rights in different situations in their lives, whether it is to do with employment, training, accommodation, or relationships. Furthermore, by placing them in a work setting near their home young people are able to build networks of support for the future, a crucial preventive measure. In essence, we work to help vulnerable young people develop successful and creative coping strategies to enable them to live independently in the community.
For further information on the Give & Take Scheme contact:
Paddy Mooney, Manager Give & Take Scheme at our Belfast Office or email paddy@includeyouth.org
Or Check out the Give and Take Scheme website - www.giveandtakescheme.org