WIREDGOV

Pre-VENT has been given the go ahead for almost £4 million from the Convergence European Social Fund to tackle the causes of youngsters who find it difficult to learn and are at risk of leaving school without qualifications or the skills to find a job.

Targeted at 11-13 year olds, the three year project will provide a package of support and training for over 7,000 young people who will be the first to benefit from an EU funding scheme aimed at this age range.

Led by Blaenau Gwent, the project will collaborate with Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Torfaen councils, alongside Careers Wales, to raise aspirations and tackle the barriers to learning faced by some youngsters.

Frank Callus, Strategic Programme Manager for the Heads of the Valleys Programme at Blaenau Gwent Council said:

We want too break down the barriers that prevent some young people from gaining the most of their education, and this programme seeks to address the issue in the critical early years of secondary school.

Announcing the project, Deputy Minister for Skills, John Griffiths, said:

This is the first time that a European funded project has been created to target children aged 11-13 and it shows how the funds are reaching out and supporting projects to better engage with disadvantaged young people. Pre-VENT will address the underlying cause of disengagement and through that, the tendency to longer term unemployment and economic inactivity.

Through the project, teachers, working alongside youth workers and community youth leaders, will help identify those most at risk of becoming NEET Not in Education, Employment or Training. As a result, a tailored package of support will be provided, in school and in outreach settings, to help them overcome any barriers to learning and encourage them to remain in education.

Using a range of innovative approaches such as motivational techniques and emotional intelligence support to boost their confidence, youngsters will have the chance to learn how vocational training options could provide an alternative to traditional academic learning. They will also be given the opportunity to develop skills to allow them to make informed decisions about their education and careers.

Year 10 Pupils from Tredegar Comprehensive School have been taking part the 'Go For IT' programme, delivered by qualified staff at the school, which includes support to develop emotional intelligence and increase the motivation of youngsters, and has proved successful in keeping them interested in learning.

One of the pupils, Matthew Prosser, speaking at the launch of the Pre-VENT project said they had really benefited from the scheme:

Go For It taught me many new life skills and helped me to look into the future more optimistically.

Following the success of this programme local authorities and teachers wanted to make these opportunities available to more pupils.

Ann Harding, Go For It Facilitator at Tredegar Comprehensive School said:

Go For It has been running in Tredegar Comprehensive School for the last eight years. It has contributed to improved levels of self-confidence and motivation. It has increased levels of pupils' self confidence to return to education post 16.

Related Links

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/?lang=en