Youth jobs and training scheme gets £600k boost

A scheme which helps support 18 to 21-year-olds in Peterborough to access apprenticeships, training and employment support has received extra funding.

The city council has received a £600,000 grant from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

It will go towards its youth guarantee trailblazer programme, which has been running for a year.

"I want to see every young person and every child thrive in this city," said Katy Cole, cabinet member for children and young people.

"For me it is really important that officers, and those who have links to communities that don't necessarily engage as well with education, are reached out to."

The new funding will ensure it can continue for a second year, as well as extending the current offer for 16 to 18-year-olds, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

The city council's service director for education, Carrie Traill, said: "We have recently, as part of the youth guarantee, commissioned a communication service in order to make better use of apps and communication to young people, because evidence suggests that has a higher success rate reaching out digitally rather than the tradition of writing letters."

Last year, 45 young people who were not participating in education, employment or training were identified and offered targeted support.

The council said the young people successfully enrolled in college within days of it making initial contact, and pupils returned to education after periods of disengagement and accessed routes towards higher-level study.

Cole added: "Finishing school and moving into the world of work or further education can be daunting, so we are actively working with partners to provide support to 18 to 21-year-olds."

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