NOTTS: Career help at hand for bullied and vulnerable teens

Vulnerable young people from across the county struggling to get on the further education and employment ladder in the county can get help and advice from Nottinghamshire County Council.
Help is at hand for those teens who are vulnerable or who have been bulliedHelp is at hand for those teens who are vulnerable or who have been bullied
Help is at hand for those teens who are vulnerable or who have been bullied

The local authority’s Targeted Support Team runs weekly drop-in sessions for teenagers who may be facing a number of other challenges in their life to help them get into further study or training or to land a job or apprenticeship. The sessions for teenagers aged between 16 and 18, offer vital support and advice to them in terms of interview skills and career guidance.

In the last year the county council has helped more than 260 young people who registered as unemployed with its Targeted Support Teams, and more than 60 per cent of these have already made the successful transition to training, employment or education.

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Current Education, Employment and Training drop-in sessions in the county are at:

Hucknall – Thursdays from 1pm-4pm at Hucknall Interchange

Mansfield – Mondays from 1pm-4pm, and Wednesdays from 1pm-4pm at Mansfield My Place

Newark – Fridays from 9am – midday at Newark College

Retford – Thursdays from 1pm -4pm at Retford Youth Centre

Sutton-in-Ashfield – Tuesdays from 1pm-4pm at Sutton Eastbourne Centre

Worksop – Mondays from 1pm - 4pm at Worksop Library

Young people can also arrange help and an appointment via the county council’s Early Help Unit or the Job Centre Plus service.

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One of the young people who has enjoyed success is Briana Chadwin, 16, from Westfield Lane, in Mansfield, who struggled through her early education at school and college with being verbally and physically bullied.

Briana’s dad Philip is a tradesman and she has taken the idea and inspiration from this to start on a painting and decorating course at the Sutton in Ashfield Centre for 16 to 19 year olds at Eastbourne House, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, which has a purpose built decorating room to learn the techniques and skills which will hopefully result in future employment. She has had support from county council key worker Kerry Knowles and her Targeted Support team.

Briana said: “I don’t know why I was bullied when I was younger but it happened and I have had to deal with it and look to the future. I am very pleased with the support I have received from Kerry and her team as they have helped me to find something that I am interested in which I can concentrate on and enjoy. The scheme has been very good to help me to find a future career direction and I would recommend it to other young people.”

Councillor Liz Plant, Vice-Chairman of the Children and Young People’s Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “Briana has overcome some difficult challenges and it is great to hear she is enjoying her new training opportunity. We are working with young people who are furthest from the labour market and have poor experiences of education due to a variety of factors and their successes are warmly welcomed.”=