Latest News at Sussex Downs College
Sussex Central YMCA offer jobs and training for young people
The Future Jobs Fund, a government scheme aimed at giving paid work placements and training for 18 to 24 year olds. 30 young people have already had job placements on this scheme and a further 72 jobs will be created over the next 14 months.
The placements are for six months, with the possibility of extending some to 12 months and beyond. Roles include administration and reception posts, working in charity shops, working on the collection vans plus in the warehouse in Mile Oak at the Sussex Central YMCA’s new warehouse and refurbishment centre for white and electrical goods.
Trainees have very different abilities and needs. Together we can tailor our service to meet the learner’s needs, not ours or the colleges. The college deliver business administration NVQ, retail skills knowledge technical certificate, warehousing and storage technical certificate and more. Plus they are working with us to develop other courses such as electrical PAT testing and construction skills certification scheme for our trainees.
Right: Assessor Steve Davis, left with Dan Belcher, right
With assessors coming to us, the trainees do not have to worry about travelling to college; it really is the college coming to us. Once in post they are given on-the-job-training plus specific training courses, with Sussex Downs College delivering the NVQ and other vocational qualifications and that all important first wage packet. At the end of the work placement the young person will be helped to find another job with writing a new CV, interview techniques and have that all important aspect – a recent work reference from a related job.
Dan Belcher and Cheney Price, both 19, work for 25 hours per week in the warehouse undertaking repairs, refurbishment and loading. Dan is benefitting from the one to one tuition and guidance. Dan and Shane have been here four months and hopefully we will come away with a certificate reflecting their knowledge, so hopefully we will be better placed to progress onto full time work.p>
Liz Poole, 20, is working in administration at the youth centre in Marmion Road Hove. She really enjoys the work here and hopes it may become permanent.
Another trainee, Shelly Alder, 21, is helping to sell the items at the electrical store in George Street, Hove.
She says: “I have gained so much confidence whilst I have been here. I hardly spoke when I first joined but now I am enjoying the learning. I have already passed customer service, retail law and I am looking forward to merchandising and banking. I have always wanted to work in retail and this is providing a real opportunity for me to get on the ladder.”
Right: Shelly Alder, left, with her assessor Pat Lake, right
There is a real need for supportive training with qualifications to underpin the placement program and more importantly allow young people to move on into the wider workforce with more work experience and importantly with better qualifications. Our partnership with Sussex Central YMCA is moving forward rapidly.
Employer Training
Any employers or businesses interested in training programmes can get more information from Sussex Downs College, Employer Training on 0845 2302 007.
Read: The full article on the Caretakers Website
