Youth jobs hub opens
AIM IS TO HELP WITH SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES
AN EMPLOYMENT centre has opened in Leicester to equip young people with new skills and opportunities.
The £4 million Youth Employment Hub, launched by Leicester City Council, has opened in the building formerly occupied by the Visit Leicester tourism information office in Gallowtree Gate.
Aiming to boost opportunities for young people, the project will provide tailored support to those who are not in education, employment or training.
It will particularly target groups of young people who are more likely to be in that position, such as those leaving care, with special educational needs and disabilities or from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Vanessa Gregorova was one of the first people to receive support from the hub.
She said: “During lockdown I found it really difficult to find work, despite having completed two traineeships. Through the youth hub, I have now been signed up on a programme called Get Inspired and will be getting lots of support from my adviser to help me get something sorted.
“We have already completed some job applications together and I will be getting some help with interview preparation when I need it.”
People between the ages of 16 and 24 will be offered guidance with CV writing and interview technique as well as support with the likes of completing online applications and confidence-building.
A one-to-one meeting space will also be available to book for organisations that work with young people.
The hub will be overseen by Connexions,
the city council’s youth, career support service.
Councillor Elly Cutkelvin, assistant city mayor for education, said: “It’s fantastic to see the youth employment hub open its doors in such a great location.
“Young people have been hit hard by the pandemic, which is why we’re investing in this long-term project to support them. Every young person should have the opportunity to achieve their ambitions.”
Over three years, the project plans to help more than 1,000 young people.
The council will work with Futures, which specialises in employability for 18 to 25-year-olds, the Youth Education Project and Trans4m.
The council secured £2 million from the European Social Fund for the project and contributed £1.1 million was funded by the council, with the rest from the partners.