Helping youngsters turn their lives around

Every year, young people in Tower Hamlets can find themselves out of school or work for various reasons, and at a loss as to where to turn.

Thanks to a number of council programmes supporting young people within this group, more 16-18 year olds are finding their way back into education, training and employment.

Over the past two years, the council has organised eight events to put young people who aren’t at school or work, in touch with organisations that offer training, support, apprenticeships, work experience and employment.

Organised by the Youth and Connexions Service, the Your Next Move events have attracted a total of 700 16-18 year olds.

Overall, the council looks set to achieve its target in reducing the proportion of youngsters who are out of work or education, to 5.2 per cent.

Lewis Charles from Bow is one of the young people to benefit from such an event and is living proof that youngsters can achieve their goals, whatever their circumstances.

Knowing that he wanted to work with cars, Lewis secured a college place on an electrical engineering course, but found his confidence dwindled after struggling with the exams. He said: ‘When I failed my third year, I felt confused about what to do next so I sent my CV to lots of companies but finding a job was really difficult.’

Supported by mum Fay, Lewis visited Connexions, the advice service for 13-19 year olds, where he was told about an event for young people in his situation.

Fay said: ‘It was hard watching my son because I felt like he was stagnating. He kept trying but he was just hitting a brick wall’.

Lewis went along to the event with Fay, and there they met Rejaur Rahman, an advisor at Tower Project, a charity that supports children, young people and adults with disabilities.

Enthused by Tower Project’s emphasis on individual support and group work, Lewis signed up with the charity to complete a National Open College Network Level 1 Personal Development programme and hasn’t looked back since.

In just two months, he has completed the National Open College Network Level 1 in Literacy and is currently working towards the Level 2 as well as an equivalent numeracy qualification.

Tower Project has also been able to set up work experience for Lewis at a garage near his home, which Rejual hopes could lead to an apprenticeship.

Able to see the huge change in Lewis’ confidence, his mum is grateful for everyone’s efforts. She said: ‘Thanks to Rejaur and his amazing team, my son is now able to look to the future and says that one day he would like to own a garage and give back to the community, helping children who are in the same position as he was.’

Over the next few months Lewis will continue his journey with Tower Project, gaining qualifications and hands on experience while he takes steps towards realising his dream.

Lewis said: ‘Working with Tower Project has changed my life. Without meeting Rejaur at the event, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’

Tower Project has been an OCN Eastern Region Recognised Centre since 2002. Staff at the project offer specialist information, advice and guidance on finding work, keeping a job, developing skills and making adjustments for work for people with disabilities and health conditions. They also offer access to work funding, free skills development training, life coaching and vocational rehabilitation services; whilst paid work, work placements and volunteering opportunities are available and awareness training and job brokerage is also offered to employers.

Both the Qualifications in Progression and the Step-UP qualification from NOCN are offered as part of an individual’s personal development programme.  These qualifications can also be achieved as part of a valeting enterprise project offering both practical experience and recognised qualifications.

For more information about them please visit www.towerhamlets-jobhunters.org.uk/ or contact scott@towerproject.org.uk call: 020 8980 3500