NCB tackles youth unemployment with new apprenticeship
scheme
Thursday 25 February
NCB is delighted to launch its Skills
Development Programme (SDP), a new initiative supporting community
and voluntary sector organisations to employ and develop skills of
young people who are not in education, employment or training
(NEET).
This unique programme is designed to improve the diversity of
the workforce within the community and voluntary sector, and
facilitate change through young people’s participation in their
local communities. Creating ‘on the job’ learning opportunities,
previously unemployed young people aged between 18 and 24 will be
able to gain valuable skills and experience in job roles lasting
for five months, working 25 hours per week within Lewisham,
Greenwich, Lambeth, Hackney, Newham or Tower Hamlets
NCB’s Skills Development Programme will create around six jobs
per month for young people initially until July 2010. They will be
supported by NCB throughout the programme, spending a month
participating in an induction programme before commencing
employment at their host organisations. Once in the job, tailored
learning plans will be developed with each participant to ensure
they are equipped to take on their job, as well as being assigned a
personal mentor for additional support.
The jobs on offer are entry level positions, supporting existing
work or expanding work in a specific area where the organisation
may otherwise lack the resources to do so. Some examples of roles
on offer include: Project Administrator, Research Assistant,
Finance Administrator, Marketing Assistant and HR Officer.
Sally Whitaker, Deputy Chief Executive at NCB says: ‘We have always
been concerned with the issue of youth unemployment, and we are
delighted to bring young people this unique opportunity to gain ‘on
the job’ experience in specific job roles. This programme comes at
a time when the number of young people not in education, employment
or training is worryingly high and we call on Government to
continue investing in services that help young people to finish
their education and find a career that makes the most of their
skills and talents. It will also ensure the sector reflects the
society it is representing as well as increasing the voice and
contribution of young people in community and voluntary sector
service provision through employment.’
Sally continues, ‘The Skills Development Programme is part of
the NCB’s Voluntary Sector Support Programme and has been developed
because people are concerned that it is difficult to get a foothold
on the career ladder – this programme offers a unique opportunity
to do just that.’