Pictured above: Sara Bennett and Carol Copeland, Director,
Youth Works CIC
A caring teenager from Corby, who left school aged 15 to recover
from Meningitis, is looking forward to a career in hairdressing
after attending a European funded project to develop her
skills.
The project 'Brighter Futures Plus', managed by the
Northamptonshire Learning and Development Partnership (NTDP), has
been awarded over £587,978 from the European Social Fund
2007-13 (ESF) and the Learning and Skills Council East Midlands. It
is helping people like Sara Bennett, progress into jobs. ESF is
investing £376 million overall to boost skills and jobs in
the region.
Sara, 17, lives with her mother and brother who she also has a
caring responsibility for as they both have mobility problems. Due
to her own health problems she left Pope John Catholic School mid
way through year nine and was home tutored by her mother but
unfortunately did not gain any recognised qualifications.
Spending so much time at home and losing contact with many of
her friends, Sara lost a lot of confidence and her self-esteem was
at an all-time low. In a bid to change her life, she contacted
Connexions who put her in touch with Youth Works CIC who deliver
the Brighter Futures Plus on behalf of NTDP. This was a huge step
for Sara who had barely left the house for nearly three years and
only had a small network of family and just a few friends.
Over 20 weeks, Sara attended the Youth Works CIC BF+ programme
delivered at the Connaughty Youth Centre, Corby. Whilst on the
programme Sara achieved AQAs Level 1 in Applying for a Job, Deaf
Awareness, Recruitment and Selection, and her City and Guilds
Literacy Level 1. She also completed a two day work placement in
the Connaughty Centre café to learn new skills including
cooking and dealing with customers.
From here she progressed onto a local Entry 2 Employment course
and has secured a place at Tresham College to do a hairdressing
course which she starts in September 2009.
Sara said: "Because I left school I lost contact with many of
friends which really began to get me down. I don't know where I
would be now if I hadn't had the support of Brighter Future Plus,
in particular Carol who has helped me every step of the way."
Carol Copeland, Director, Youth Works CIC said: "Through
assessment, Individual Learning Plan and review I got to know Sara
well. She was articulate and bright but low in self confidence and
self esteem. Her interaction and communication with her peers was
initially strained, appearing far more comfortable with adults.
"However throughout her time with us Sara became so much more
confident and became an important and vocal part of the group. I am
delighted she has done so well with her education and wish her well
in her future career."