Young offenders
The current economic climate has made it particularly challenging for people at the beginning of their working life to enter the labour market. Inevitably, young people who break the law are now in an even more difficult position than normal. Young offenders routinely suffer interruption to their education, experience psychological issues relating to their conviction and, at the very least, find themselves with a criminal record which is likely to act as a barrier to employment.
Changing perceptions of young people
European Social Fund (ESF) funding has had a significant impact on changing the employment and training options available to young offenders, often working with local employers to change their perceptions about ex-offenders therefore creating work experience opportunities. In addition to the extensive programme delivered by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), numerous ESF projects have developed expertise and strong agency links to actively engage young ex-offenders in their programmes.
Projects
The West Midlands-based programme, Kickstart Life, delivers specialised training courses for young people who are NEET in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Many have offending backgrounds, and the success of the project depends on working closely with everyone who has an impact on the young participant’s life, including family, Connexions, and probation officers, to help them build the foundations and confidence for sustainable progression to training or employment.
Other ESF-funded projects working with young offenders include:
- Breakthrough Project (Lewisham, Croydon, Bromley)
- ESP Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
- EUL (Education Unlimited) (Bristol)
- Future Focus (Lincolnshire)
- Inspire, Engage to Educate (London)
- KS4 Pre-engagement Programme (including Headstart2Work: East Sussex, Brighton and Hove)
- OptIN (Brighton, Hove, East Sussex)
- Platform 51: Education and Skills for Young Women (Kent)
- ReEngage (Gloucestershire)
- Youth Enhanced Support (YES) (Gloucestershire).
Links
Ministry of Justice youth custody data
