Petitions Committee inquiry: Work based learning for vulnerable young people A response from Denbighshire 14-19 Network Thank you for your enquiry and the opportunity to contribute my views on behalf of the Denbighshire 14-19 Network. As suggested I have consulted with partners including our major providers of WBL and Careers Wales. These include Coleg Llandrillo, Deeside College Llysfasi and North Wales Training. As a principle, supporting vulnerable young people through work based learning routes is beyond question both morally and for economic reasons. All young people, and especially the most vulnerable, have their entitlements under the Learning Pathways agenda. I particular, they are entitled to their own individual pathway together with the personal and learning support they may need. These entitlements are not always readily achievable for young people, even with the best partnership working, and it is even more challenging when young people reach the age of 16, and more so again when they have additional learning and support needs. The view becomes darker still when coupled with the current economic climate and the nature of the labour market in Denbighshire. That does not mean to say that WBL partner providers are not making every effort to meet their guarantee of providing WBL opportunities for all 16-18 year olds, and to work with CYPP and 14-19 partners to access personal support and learning coaching for the most vulnerable. In all, Denbighshire has each year around 3% of 16 year olds on WBL pathways, compared with the national figure of between 6.5% to 9%. The economic context is obviously not helpful to this commitment. It is argued that that has led to a scarcity of apprenticeships as jobs are lost and those in the labour market find themselves unable to move on, employees being able to appoint those already holding level 2 qualifications when they do have a vacancy to fill or choosing the option of not taking on training obligations. Without the jobs/apprenticeships there is no WBL route at NVQ 2 and NVQ1 for any young people, but particularly for those who are vulnerable such as the homeless who find competition in the job market challenging. This also prevents progression from skills and qualifications gained in a previous placement (such as Skillbuild). This is particularly felt in the south of the county where employment opportunities are almost wholly with SME. ‘We have the capacity and the funding as a WBL provider to deliver the programmes at the appropriate level; but young people are not being taken on by companies.’ (College WBL provider) Other WBL providers in the north of the county observe that the demand for trainees is there in some sectors, eg the Care sector, but they (the college in this case) do not have the funding they have already met their budget on Skillbuild. Around 45% of employment* is in the public and health sectors (cf 33% nationally), over 83% in services generally (cf 79% nationally) and just 10% in manufacturing. The county council has been a valuable source of apprenticeships but this could be adversely affected by the spending cuts in the public sector. The county council also provides job opportunities through one of its enterprises, Cefndy Healthcare, a successful business that employs and provides training opportunities for vulnerable people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. WBL providers are willing to work in partnership with each other and other sectors to provide more WBL opportunities in Denbighshire but funding is an issue, as are notional priority skill areas. As seen above, Denbighshire’s profile is different to the national profile: if the latter drives the funding for programmes then young people in Denbighshire, including and particularly the most vulnerable, will be further disadvantaged. The Occupational Skills Shortages in North Wales have been identified by Careers Wales as: • Construction • Health & Social Care • Hospitality • Retail • Tourism • Environmental It would therefore seem logical to support WBL provision in these areas, and is hoped that new contracts will reflect this. Denbighshire 14-19 Network partners are working together in targeting the most vulnerable pre 16 learners in our two high schools in Rhyl that serve the two most deprived wards in Wales. The Engagement Project combines Network and Cymorth funding to build individual learning pathways for 40 young people. Partners include Careers Wales North West, Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Rhyl, North Wales Training, third sector organisations, the Army and the Youth Service with Rhyl HS and Blessed Edward Jones HS. Outcomes targeted are at Level 2. This work has been incorporated into a bid for ESF funding under the Engage bid. John Gambles Denbighshire 14-19 Network Coordinator 6th August 2010 Petitions Committee inquiry: Work based learning for vulnerable young people Young People’s Views As a young person who has undergone the route of Work Based Learning as a progression route from the 6th form, I have found that it has been possibly the most valued part of the education I have received. Following a Modern Apprentice route within the County Council, I was also following a Business Administration NVQ 2 /3 Qualification through Coleg Llandrillo Cymru as part of my contract. This way I was gaining valuable employment experience and completing a qualification at the same time. I cannot but feel great value in the experience and support I have received during my time as a modern apprentice which has enabled me to progress in my career working within the County Council. I cannot image how difficult it may be for vulnerable young people to follow a similar career path as they may face different and difficult challenges within their lives, especially now with the added fear of cuts, budget restrictions and job losses which will affect employers’ recruitment and training opportunities. Now, as part of my role as Learner Voice Champion it was my responsibility to gather the views of young people who had been through the same process as myself of the Work Based Learning route into the now difficult climate of work and employment. As part of my post I went to Coleg Llandrillo Rhyl, which is one of the more deprived areas within the County to talk to a group of young people who are either following a SkillBuild programme, or have completed one. Skillbuild is a pre - work based learning programme. They were asked how they felt about the opportunity they have been given. The response was that they all felt confident after following the programme, they were given a lot of support and felt that many of their basic skills such as Literacy, Numeracy and ICT had improved. Some of the young people have progressed onto other courses and others straight into full time employment. They felt they got to know more people, which again built on their confidence and their attitudes. They all felt that they could now approach an employer and know how to behave, dress and perform in a working environment. They said that they were aware of what skills are needed in employment and what to do to prepare and present in an interview. The ones who had gained work experience said they felt it valuable and relevant to their plans for the future. On the whole it was a positive response with the young people appreciating the opportunities and skill they had whilst following the programme. The key condition appears to be that of progression from Skillbuild Elin Davies Learner Voice Champion, 14-19 Network Denbighshire County Council .