We had a really good session today. Corey has done some great work in designing a logo for Engage-see his blog and comment. Daz is going solo, and Jamel got his head down with the keyboard and some music software.
From a management point of view; we are on track and raring to go. Next challenge is to get the qualifications started.
It was a good session today.
Daz’s working his socks off and seems to be enjoying himself. Corey and James got started on designing a logo for the site. So i’m looking forward to seeing it when it’s finished.
Good news on the funding front! I’ve presented, picketed and pleaded, and finally got people to listen to what we are doing and aiming to do in the future. But we’ve managed to get the nod!
Onwards and upwards!
We had a really good session yesterday, although very busy.
We had some new starters so we were trying to get bedded in by completing initial advice & guidance and benefits sessions, and introducing them to what Engage can offer them.
We were also visited by Jane Williams from Connexions’ X-press newsletter who are to do a feature on the Engage project. Word is getting around!
Me and Tanuja are presenting to the board this afternoon to secure the funding for Engage and continue the good work until March next year. Wish us luck!!!
A quiet day today, but at least that gave us a chance to get some of the other practitioners up to speed on what we are doing and discuss development ideas. We agreed that a ‘practitioners’ page’ would be a good idea so that we can share information/best practice etc. We also agreed that we need to be mindful of confidential information.
Engage is back from the Christmas break. It seems like ages since i last blogged.
It’s been a quiet start to the new year for Engage as we have few attendees. Most of the young people who attended at the end of 08 have moved on into ETE-which is great as that is what we are here for!
We’ve spent most of today’s session coming up with ideas for developing Engage. Jon has added an RSS link so everyone can subscribe and keep up to date with any news and changes.
That’s it for now.
Have a great new year!
Dean
Hey, folks.
The Engage project has now been running for six week so i thought i would finally write an update as to how things have been going.
The aim of the project is to creatively engage-that’s where the name comes from, i guess-young offenders aged 16+ who are NEET (Not Engaged in Education, Employment or Training), on orders with Sandwell Youth Offending Team into some kind of meaningful employment or training. I really don’t want people to look at this project as a ’jobclub’, that would suggest that there is only one aim-to get young people into jobs. I would like people to see Engage as an engagment tool as some young people are simply not ready to enter into employment.
So we are really looking to employ a scaled approach for the young people attending to meet their needs and break down their barriers to learning and entering employment as well as developing their social and life skills some of which is being done during a game of pool-a good ice breaker!
Although we have only been running for six weeks we have had great success in managing to engage six young people in ETE: four of which have moved on into training, one into full-time employment, and one who is engaging brilliantly with We Share Stuff to develop his literacy, IT skills and more importantly, his social skills.
We broke for Christmas today, and will resume on the 5th Jan, so merry Crimbo, folks. See you in the new year.
Dean