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Helping young people to make “better choices”

Oliver Ashton

who are we?established 20 yearsone of UK’s largest suppliers of

motivational training and consultancyover 200,000 people helped 800+ trainers licensed in UKover 3000 staff trainedcited by OFSTED and ALI as examples

of “best practice” advisers to Social Exclusion Unit

(ODPM) and Conservative report on young people

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best of the bestspecialists in cognitive behaviour

programmes – (CBT), positive psychology, NLP and unemployment, disadvantage and engagement

making complicated academia simpletrain the trainer programmesequipping and re-energising teams focus on the customer and their needs

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clients includeJC+ – Gateway/New Deal providersConnexionsSocial Services/YOTs/leaving careCouncils Prisons/YOIsFootball/sport/music related projectsNHS CollegesLearners with disabilities and learning

difficultiesPrime contractors

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Programmes include GOALS for young people

G4YP– young people 13-20 GOALS

adults 18+ GOALS plus –

agency staff

common theme :

“Inspiring and empowering people to think feel and behave to create positive futures”

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where are we now?individuals too often failing or

being failedvalue of work underestimatedschool a painful experience –

“fear of learning”self-esteem eroded by parents,

school, peers, media etc (3:4)

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many young people are isolated, alienated and scared

cycle of fear/knives/victimsold certainties diminishing - a

secure job, family support, sense of community

blame culture -

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immediate gratification.learned helplessness – low

aspirationslack of good consistent role

models – “trusted adults” negative people with negative

attitudescynical media bad

news/soaps/hip hop stereotypes

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the evidence

87% of NEETS re-engaged after attending GOALS courses

(Louise – Essex Connexions)

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Aims and ObjectivesTo work pan London with hard to

reach young people to support into ETE and sustain for 6 months

To engage, motivate and inspireTo create a mind shift and

Culture change – in both young people and employers

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Partnerships

OUR PRIME CONTRACTORS WERE:SercoNacroCatch 22City GatewaySouth London BusinessBusiness and Education London South

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What has been achieved?

Start to employement: Serco 67.6%, Nacro 54.5%, Catch 62.5 – overall 59.4%

NEETs start to entry: Citygateway 64%, SLB 70.2%, BELS 100%

Overall sustain figures73%Extensions with Serco and Nacro – only

partner taken forward

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What about the soft outcomes?

THINGS WE CANT ALWAYS MEASURE:SELF ESTEEMDIVERSION FROM CRIMESENSE OF PURPOSEETC ETC

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help you exceed your PSA’s for NEETS

less moaning – clients and staff

use as part of recruitment process – better choices, better staff

accredited with OCN and ASDAN

seed level for sustained change

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Shereen – Connexions Woolwich

continued...identifies people who need more

intensive assistanceprovision for ongoing peer support,

counselling and mentoringreduces no-shows and dropouts helps people face up to reality creates a safe, nurturing, non

judgmental environment

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blame culture

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what makes a good teacher/advisor?

“A healthy adult with young people” (high self esteem)

“Young people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”

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feedback“It provides the motivation for young

people to look for education, employment or training – I just love it”Beth – Personal Advisor, Connexions

“GOALS is a very exciting addition to the menu of services we offer young people. We see big shifts taking place afterwards, it’s as though the light has suddenly come on”Alex More, Connexions Manager

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typical plea from employers -

“Just give me someone who wants to work, who shows up every day on time, who gets along with their colleagues and boss and gets the job done”

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evidence“As a result of introducing GOALS to our

Gateway to Work project job applications have gone up by 200% and outcomes have gone up by 38%” Careers Scotland

“Using GOALS on days 2 and 3 of our Gateway helped us get 50% of participants into work this year” Competitive Edge

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consistent resultsGOALS 4YP system

“Street style” guidebookCD for “spaced repetition”Certificate30 day toolkit– GOALS in ACTION

Facilitators DVD-MTV studioTrain the trainer processOngoing supportQuality checks

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