A representative from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been invited to the meeting to present an overview of the service’s work with the Princes’ Trust. Guidance also will be provided on how local young people can become involved with the Trust.
Minutes:
Lindsey Dunn, a Deputy Team Leader with the Prince’s Trust, introduced herself to the meeting.
She explained that the Prince’s Trust ran a 12-week personal development programme for young people aged 16 – 25. This was targeted at unemployed young people, ex-offenders, under-achievers and those in, or about to leave, care.
The programme was free to attend and simply aimed to achieve a positive outcome. (For example, a young person could be encouraged to enter higher education, or decide what they wanted to do with their life). A recruitment day was held before each course started, at which potential participants could decide if they felt the course would be of benefit to them.
During the first week of the programme, the young people got to know each other. Activities included basic first aid training and basic food hygiene courses. Certificates were awarded for successful completion of these. Then during week two a structured residential team-building course was undertaken. The young people were expected to do their own cooking and cleaning and to be out of bed at a certain time to meet the instructors. This could be very challenging for the participants, but also enabled them to form strong bonds with each other.
In weeks three and four the participants planned, and undertook fundraising for, a community project. This included finding the resources needed to undertake the project. The community project was then completed during the fifth and sixth weeks of the programme.
Individual work placements were undertaken during weeks seven and eight, with the purpose of encouraging participants to consider what they would like to do in the future. Some participants had found employment through this and others had been given references and built up contacts. To encourage the participants to use their new skills, consideration was given to the next steps each would take during the ninth week of the programme.
A final team challenge was undertaken during the tenth and eleventh weeks, which needed to assist the community in some way. This could be very challenging for some participants, as they often had not previously mixed with people outside of their peer group.
During the twelfth week, a final team presentation was made, describing the team’s experiences during the programme and what each member had achieved during it.
Nominations for young people to attend the programme could be given by contacting the Prince’s Trust Team, care of the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Young people also could refer themselves, or be referred by bodies such as Connexions, the job centre, or the Youth Offending Agency.
There usually were about 16 people on each course, (due to the size of the mini buses used). Some did drop out of the course. It was a voluntary programme, but they were encouraged to stay where possible. However, if a young person registered on a course did not attend at the start of it, investigations were made to ensure that there were no barriers to that person attending. If someone left after starting the programme, efforts were made to stay in touch with that person and encourage them to return.
On behalf of the meeting, the Chair thanked Lindsey Dunn for her presentation.