A special ceremony has been held for young people from Lewisham who have graduated from the Mayor’s Traineeship Programme. The programme works with people aged between 16 and 18 who are not in education, employment or training – known as NEETs. Of the nineteen who graduated, seventeen have already secured places at college, gained employment or secured further training opportunities. The programme has given them the confidence and the skills to return to education or compete for jobs. The NEET programme takes 80 young people each year. Each person completes a seven-week course that includes team building activities, an eight-day work experience placement provided either by Lewisham Council or local businesses, and help with improving their CV and interview skills.
Cllr Helen Klier, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, said: "These courses are designed to help them gain the skills they need and to identify their aspirations. I am sure they will inspire other young people by showing that their hard work and efforts will make a substantial contribution to securing their future.”
18 year old Ben Murphy, successfully completed the programme this year. He said: “I joined the programme because I didn’t want to waste another couple of years doing nothing. I needed to get out of the bad habits I’d developed and, for me, the NEET programme was the only way. After seven weeks on the programme, had an interview at Lewisham College, and found out that I have been accepted onto two courses. Now I know what I’d like to do, which is be a music teacher.”
Sasha Elliot, who is also 18 and a recent graduate, said: “Before joining the programme I wouldn’t have had the courage to go to an interview or anything like that, but the programme has really built up my confidence and now I feel like I could do anything.”
Cllr Helen Klier, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, said: "These courses are designed to help them gain the skills they need and to identify their aspirations. I am sure they will inspire other young people by showing that their hard work and efforts will make a substantial contribution to securing their future.”
18 year old Ben Murphy, successfully completed the programme this year. He said: “I joined the programme because I didn’t want to waste another couple of years doing nothing. I needed to get out of the bad habits I’d developed and, for me, the NEET programme was the only way. After seven weeks on the programme, had an interview at Lewisham College, and found out that I have been accepted onto two courses. Now I know what I’d like to do, which is be a music teacher.”
Sasha Elliot, who is also 18 and a recent graduate, said: “Before joining the programme I wouldn’t have had the courage to go to an interview or anything like that, but the programme has really built up my confidence and now I feel like I could do anything.”
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