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The Wise Group

Project Spend

£555,000

Activities

500

Title of Project – CashBack Connections

Project period: 2018 – 2020

Theme – Journey to Employment

Target Group – Young people disadvantaged by:

  • Living in areas of deprivation; and
  • Being unemployed, not in education or training; and
  • Being at risk of being involved in antisocial behaviour, offending/re-offending

Age range : 18 to 24 years

Total number of young people the project expected to work with : 500

Summary of Project

CashBack Connections was a 2-year programme which aimed to target young people in stage 1 and 2 of the employability pipeline. Each young person was to be assigned a dedicated youth coach who will support them throughout the project. They were to develop a holistic individual action plan (IAP), based on the customer’s needs and strengths. Each young person would then participate in an intensive learning and training programme focusing on employability and wellbeing which was to be delivered over five days and include mindset and confidence building, SQA employability award Level 3/4, employability advice, CV writing, mock interviews, application support, wellbeing sessions and motivational talks. The programme aimed to encourage young people to access positive activities, to broaden their horizons, gain new skills, and build wellbeing/confidence. Activities were to be spot purchased through a Positive Activity Pot. These were to be demand led, focused on improving their employability and are likely to include football classes, boxing and yoga classes, martial arts, health and beauty classes, beekeeping, drama classes, and wellbeing sessions. Volunteering opportunities such as peer mentoring or volunteer coaches’ roles were to be created. External volunteering opportunities were to be arranged with Volunteer Glasgow and Project Scotland.

Following their attendance at the employability and wellbeing programme, young people were be supported on an ongoing basis
and, typically every two months, an IAP review was to be conducted. Meaningful work placements (of one or two weeks duration) or college visits were to be arranged as young people progress. Young people could undertake one or more work placements, tasters or trials as appropriate. Taster sessions were to be arranged with City of Glasgow College, Glasgow Kelvin College, Ayrshire College and West College Scotland and should provide young people with opportunities to explore further education. Where appropriate, the Wise Group aiomed to deliver training, including SQA core skills or vocational qualifications such as the CSCS card, SIA badge, first aid, food hygiene, and conflict resolution.

Areas in which the project was to be delivered

East Ayrshire (75 young people)– Kilmarnock (including Shortlees), Altonhill, Longpark, Hillhead, Doon Valley and Hurlford
Glasgow (350 young people) – Parkhead, Shettleston, Cranhill, Dalmarnock, Easterhouse, Barlanark, and Carnwadric,
Drumchapel, Maryhill, Possilpark, Milton, Keppochhill , Pollok, Glenwood and Springburn

Inverclyde (75 young people) – Port Glasgow, Greenock, Larkfield, Lower Bow, Fancy Farm and Mallard Rd