News Zone
Major funding announced for new training initiative in Knowsley
Date: 23 October
The funding has been provided by the Alternative Provision Pilot Scheme and will pay for the new Knowsley Skills Academy. It will provide a structured setting for young people and will focus on re-establishing boundaries, raising self-esteem, broadening aspirations and achieving positive educational and employment outcomes for young people who are not in permanent education, employment or training.
The Academy is an alternative to mainstream education. Young people will, however, remain on a school roll. The programme will provide packages of support tailored to meet each young person’s specific needs.
Young people may attend from one to five days a week. The programme is part of Knowsley’s successful and acclaimed 14-19 collegiate (please see editor’s note). It will support our wider Workbased Learning Programme and will ensure those young people who find it difficult to remain in school stay involved in constructive activities.
The aims of the programme are:
- to provide high quality personal and social development and support and guidance for 60 14 to 16-year olds and 60 16 to 19-year olds
- use trained instructors to help develop self-discipline and better understand the boundaries of acceptable behaviour
- provide a regime which emphasises personal qualities such as punctuality, physical fitness, co-operation with those in authority and teamwork through tailored training as well as key skills such as literacy and numeracy
- support post 16 young people who are not in full-time education, training or employment by providing similar programmes in partnership with the Colleges.
The Knowsley Skills Academy was established through a partnership with George Howarth, Member of Parliament for Knowsley North and Sefton East, Lt Col Tony Hollingsworth MBE who is from Kirkby, Knowsley Council, Schools, Colleges, other partners and local councillors.
Young people will be referred to the Skills Academy through established routes: schools, Work Based Learning Programme, Targeted Youth Support, Youth Offending Service, Colleges and the Pupil Referral Unit.
The programme will follow the Army Cadet Force (AFC) syllabus, offering a varied programme of life and basic skills.
George Howarth MP is delighted with the new funding: “This announcement is excellent news for the young people of Knowsley. Not only does it demonstrate the value of different people and organisations working in partnership, but it also illustrates the Council’s and the Government’s commitment to finding practical solutions to tackle the problems caused by social exclusion.”
Damian Allen, Knowsley Council’s Executive Director for Children and Family Services added: “This funding will make an enormous difference to the lives of those young people who aren’t attending school or in work or on a training programme. It will equip them with the necessary skills to make a positive contribution in society and will divert them away from antisocial behaviour and crime.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The Knowsley Collegiate is a long established partnership to support 14 to 19 learning in the Borough. It consists of Knowsley Council, Knowsley Community College, all of the Borough’s secondary schools, the Learning and Skills Council, Jaguar and Edge Hill University.
Each year the Collegiate supports vocational and work-related programmes for over 1000 young people from Years 10 and 11 in all Knowsley schools. The programmes enable young people to acquire work related accreditation and prepare young people for the world of work.