Member Article

Youngsters celebrate training success

Teens from around the region hosted and attended an Oscars-style ceremony last week at Newcastle’s Centre for Life. The event - complete with limousines and awards - marked a year’s outstanding achievement through the Connexions-run Activity Agreement, designed to help young people aged 16 or 17 who have been out of learning or training for at least 20 weeks.

Through the government-backed initiative, eligible young people are offered support, a plan of activities towards a clear goal and £20 a week for up to 20 weeks while they take the first steps towards a brighter future.

The North East is one of only eight pilot regions in the UK to run the scheme and has had the best success rate to date. Since April last year, 680 young people have joined Activity Agreement and of these over 60% of leavers have moved into education, employment or training.

Carolyn Reynolds, Connexions communications manager said: “The event was a great success and highlighted the hard work of many young people, including those who helped to arrange it. We are proud of the achievements that Activity Agreement has seen so far in the North East and hope to build on this, helping more young people to fulfil their potential.”

For more information about Connexions and their programmes, visit www.connexions-direct.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .