| A Day in the Life of Palmersville Training |
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| Vocational training and tailored personal support is a winning combination at one of Barnardo's largest projects in the North East. Palmersville is probably the most decorated building in Barnardo's. Geoff Mount, Deputy Manager, jokes that every few weeks the walls get an inch thicker. The service offers a wide range of vocational training for 14 to 19 year olds, including painting and decorating, hairdressing, beauty, warehousing, hospitality, IT, admin, retail and horticulture - with many of the services being open to customers. There is also a citizenship programme for young people who are not quite ready to embark on a vocational programme. As well as offering training, staff and volunteers aim to help young people to build their confidence, develop socially and improve their literacy and numeracy skills. Palmersville delivers the Learning and Skills Council's Entry to Employment programme, a work-based learning scheme for young people who are not ready for direct entry on to an apprenticeship. The service also offers up to 50 apprenticeships in different vocational areas, and takes 60 young people from three local high schools for a day a week on a vocational taster programme. Some of the young people at Palmersville have been excluded from other mainstream training providers, so personal support from a dedicated key worker is vital. Palmersville is unique as a training provider as it has a dedicated support worker team. 'The support workers are there to deal with some of the reactive work,' says Geoff. 'A young person might say: "I've been kicked out of the house so I cannot continue with my training programme". Other training providers would just expect them to cope with that whereas we offer additional support to that person, enabling them to overcome any crisis they may be facing.' During the day, training courses are run in their purpose-built areas. The painting and decorating section for example is full of awkward corners and crevices to challenge the young people. 'I used to be dead quiet, but now I can just get on with the job,' says David who has progressed through the Entry to Employment scheme and onto a painting and decorating apprenticeship. The beauty salon enables young people to get a taster of work in a salon and to take NVQ's. 'When the young people initially come to you, they think they might not be able to do things,' says Shirley who runs the beauty course. 'We help them decide future ideas - like a stepping stone. Even if half of them decide to go into the work, you are having some success.' In the restaurant, young people on the hospitality programme start early, cooking and serving breakfasts for their customers which include other learners, staff and volunteers and then preparing soups, salads, sandwiches and a menu consisting of three main courses and desserts for up to 120 customers. 'The difference between here and college is they treat you with respect,' says Ryan, who is studying his NVQ Level 2. He hopes to eventually have is own restaurant, while his friend Malcolm would like to work in a bakery or as a sous chef in a restaurant. The engagement and focus of the young people is clear, and Geoff closely follows their progress. 'The best thing is seeing each young person achieve,' he explains. 'One young man was very shy, and had low self confidence when he began here. Now he works on the counter in the restaurant, operates the till, and deals with customers very confidently. He applied for a job with one of Barnardo's other services as a cook. He didn't receive any preferential treatment, but he got the job and is now a colleague. Many of our young people have gone on to be very successful.' |
| June (2006) Archives |
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| Climbing High |
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| A party of five learners from the Citizenship Department attended a High Rope Activity Session at Whickham Thorns Activity Centre.... Continue Reading Climbing High |
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