Success stories just the job to show how NEET can be beat

By Lorrayne Johnson

12 July 2010

Between 2006 and 2008, the number of young people not in education, employment or training (known as NEET) in Tower Hamlets fell from 10.9 per cent to 6.7 per cent, refleclting the successful measures of the council and its partners in the business, voluntary and community sectors.

Around a quarter of young people will go through periods of being out of work, education or training between the ages of 16 and 18.

That’s according to Against All Odds, a report by the Audit Commission published last week.

The report calls for action, including better targeted funding and more effective schemes to encourage youngsters into training or employment. But Tower Hamlets is already delivering results in getting NEETs into jobs.#

Nineteen-year-old Safia Altaf from Stepney Green and Nabil Ahmed, 18, from Mile End, were both NEET for a while. 

After going through a support scheme run by City Gateway, a charity in Heron Quays that runs youth training and employment programmes, both have now found jobs. Safia enrolled onto City Academy’s IT pre-apprenticeship training course.

Soon after, she began an apprenticeship at Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS), a legal firm in the City. Safia’s apprenticeship was so successful that she was offered a six-month contract in the firm’s marketing department.

“I didn’t go to college and wasn’t working for about eight months,” Safia said.

“So for a while I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“One day, I went into Connexions to talk about my situation. They must have contacted City Gateway because a few days later, I got a call from them.

“They invited me down so I went to check it out. They offered me the chance to go on a six-month IT training course.

“I spent one day at college and two days working at DWS. At the end of my apprenticeship, the firm gave me a six-month contract.”

Nabil also kick-started his career through the training and apprenticeship schemes offered at City Gateway. Like Safia, he enrolled on the IT course and then began an apprenticeship. Nabil is now on a six-month work placement at Gateway Motion, one of City Gateway’s social enterprises, where he is trainee event manager.

After leaving school in 2008, Nabil went on a college course. He completed most of it but left before it finished and wasn’t doing anything for two months.  Nabil went on a couple of Summer Uni courses, which revived his interest in learning. He found out about City Gateway through a friend and started a course there.

He said: “Really, there’s no point in being at home doing nothing because one day you’re going to have to work and, the more time you waste, the harder it’s going to be for you in life.

“There are so many organisations and places where you can get help, but you need to take the first step. You have to put the effort in. 

“I’ve seen that when someone puts the effort in and it does not work out for them, they stop. I would say to them, 100 per cent, that they should never give up because it’s life. Things happen for a reason but it doesn’t mean that you should stop trying.”

And for Safia, her achievements have been recognised. Last month, she won a Skills for Life award, presented by 2008 BBC Apprentice winner Lee McQueen.

She said: “That was definitely one of the best moments of my life. I was completely shocked. I had prepared myself for not winning because I thought there would be lots of people in that category.  But then I found out that, because the judges thought my application was so good, I was the only one they shortlisted!”

Safia added: “There’s a lot of help out there but it’s up to the person to find it and stick to it. If you don’t, you never know where you’re going to end up. 

“A lot of people I started with dropped out – but I stayed and got somewhere and am really proud of that.

“As long as you know what you want and keep pushing, you will make it. I got help from the council, Connexions and City Gateway, and as long as you work with them, you will get the help you need.”

Eddie Stride is the chief executive of City Gateway.

“Both these young people have benefited from our courses and apprenticeship scheme,” he said.

“This success is due to our employer partners creating an opportunity for an apprentice. DWS now take on six a year

and Gateway Motion will take on ten this year.

“We have lots of young people waiting to start apprenticeships, but need employers to offer more opportunities.”

Employers who are interested in taking on an apprentice should contact sarah.webster@citygateway.org.uk

If you are a youngster aged over 16 and are interested in doing an apprenticeship in sports coaching, ICT & business admin, customer service or catering and hospitality, contact Nigel@citygateway.org.uk.