Building confidence, resilience, and competence in young people with UKSPF Funding in Cornwall
Yep! the new Youth Engagement Project for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly aimed at disadvantaged young people, has received £2 million from the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Yep!, managed by CSW Group on behalf on Cornwall Council, will work with young people aged 16 – 24, with a specific focus on 16-18 year-olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) or are at risk of NEET, have special educational needs (SEN), or are in other vulnerable groupings. Launched in January 2024, it will run until 31st March 2025.
The Launch Event for Yep! will be held on Monday 26th February at the Heart and Soul Café, at Newquay Orchard, between 10.30 am and 1.00 pm, all professionals supporting young people are invited to come along to find out more, tickets are available on Eventbrite here.
This unique integrated and collaborative project aims to exploit the very best of locally available support to build confidence, resilience, and competence within young people in Cornwall as they determine their way in the world after secondary education.
This is a staged project preceded by triaging, against specific agreed guidelines. It enables NEET young people to join the stage of the project that best suits their need according to their judged distance from the labour market.
The greater the need/distance the more intensive the support available across the project through our partners: Active Plus, Carefree, Cornwall Education Business partnership, CSW Group, Educational Development Trust, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Pentreath Pluss, RJ Working, Real Ideas and Urban Biodiversity (Newquay Orchard). This extensive partnership will be working collaboratively to give each young person the support needed.
Managing Director of CSW Group, Chris Saxby says “CSW’s purpose is to help build a future where every individual can contribute positively to society and lead a fulfilling life. I am proud to see this fantastic partnership brought together focused on doing just that, in Cornwall. Our partners local capability is second to none nationally, and their commitment to collaboration a beacon for others to follow. This unique UKSPF-funded programme is rightly ambitious for those young people of Cornwall who face social exclusion and has already started in earnest. Cornwall Council are to be congratulated on their drive and support in bringing about this opportunity.”
Councillor Barbara Ellenbroek, Cornwall Council portolio holder for Children and Families, said: “Everyone deserves to start well and live well. Ensuring that our young people are given opportunities to gain confidence and new skills on the road to fulfilling their potential, with all the support that these dedicated and knowledgeable partners can give, is hugely important. Everyone needs a helping hand to realise and fulfil their potential, and we’re here to give it.”
Councillor Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for Economy, said: “This Shared Prosperity Funding will be put to good use. This is exactly the kind of initiative it is designed for as it will be used to give our young residents the opportunities they need to improve their lives and contribute to levelling up their communities.”
