51EMPLOYABILITY SOLUTIONS |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019
decided to provide a full-time alternative
education for this marginalised group of
people, with a view to promoting social
inclusion for unemployed people.
We operate under the view that
people of this age are too often
underappreciated and too easily
written off. This is because many fail
to appreciate the additional complex
barriers that such people can face,
as well as the neurodevelopmental,
social and emotional issues that might
underlie these barriers. Our ultimate
goal is to move this demographic
into more employable positions in
mainstream society.
Putting ideas into practice
We are an independent school
registered with the Department
for Education, and our courses
serve as genuine stepping stones
for improvement. We’re careful,
however, to avoid providing blanket
solutions that try to make one size
fit all. Instead, all of our education
programmes are developed on an
individual basis to match the needs of
each and every student we cater for.
To help us in this goal, we marshal
the assistance and guidance of local
entrepreneurs and businesses – in both
Liverpool and West Yorkshire.
The fact that we’re a social enterprise
means that our incentives are
focused less on profit than they are
on improving the community. As
an organisation, we are sincerely
passionate about adding cohesion
and safety to the places in which we
work. You can have all the relevant
degrees and training, but only by
caring can you get these young people
to where they need to be. Culturally
speaking, our organisation work
together as though we are a family,
although it’s worth emphasising that
this does not come at the expense of
professionalism. Combining the two is
integral to our success, as one has to
perform this service on a personal level
– figuring out the root causes of young
people’s situations, and working out a
corresponding solution that will work
in the long term.
Changing perceptions,
bettering lives
Like all organisations, we are not
without our challenges. For example,
the national perception of the sector
is currently less than ideal. This is
because, as mentioned previously, we
are working with people that society
has given up on. For us, therefore,
it is deeply important that we show
people that our provision is a credible
and genuine alternative. We must also
demonstrate that we are different to,
and not less than, mainstream routes.
This challenge is not made easier
by the fact that there has been a
drastic reduction in spending on
public services in recent years. At
present, we receive funds only on
an educational basis and not on the
basis of mental health provision for
broader, wrap-around pastoral care
that young people so desperately
need. The latter falls to health
services, who have to pick up the
pieces. Nevertheless, we have to be
multi-skilled in this area, because
Working toward
everyone’s passions
Our courses
serve as
genuine
stepping
stones for
improvement
“
“
Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett
Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles
