The Lancashire Colleges Consortium

Engaging Ethnic Heritage

Young People in Workbased Learning

Round 1 2004-2006

Project Number ESF/0304/173

Project Description

Project Background

Overall, ethnic minorities are much more likely to stay on in full-time education (e.g. 76%) in comparison to white young people, (e.g. 65%). However this doesn’t apply to all ethnic minorities, for instance Bangladeshi are the least likely ethnic minority group to remain in education. This requires appropriate, researched and targeted action, as illustrated by figures in Lancashire LSC’s Skills Needs Assessment which illustrates the need to engage with ethnic minority young people given that less than 12% progress into workbased learning. Immediately increasing the number of ethnic minority young people participating in post 16 provision has been a priority for the LSC which this project has aimed to achieve.

Project Methodology

The purpose of the project was to increase the number of young people from ethnic minorities entering workbased learning supporting those not in training or education, all of whom fell in the ‘non-learners’ priority group. This was to be achieved by initially engaging ethnic heritage groups, providing customised support via a team of mentors coupled with the delivery of outreach work including information advice and guidance, support to address employability skills issues coupled with access to vocational tasters and placements. Priority was to be placed on progressing clients into workbased learning provision given the low take-up by ethnic minority groups.

Project objectives included:-

Ensuring provision was accessible reaching the diversity of ethnic communities across East Lancashire and Preston by developing and testing new approaches.

Engaging and re-engaging young people from ethnic minority groups, with a special focus on reaching/supporting those for whom workbased learning would be the most appropriate progression opportunity by out-reach activities

Delivery of vocational tasters coupled with key skills support

to raise employability skills

Impact on Project Objectives

Ensuring provision was accessible reaching the diversity of ethnic communities across East Lancashire and Preston by developing and testing new approaches.

The project has been successful in engaging with ethnic minority groups who were often disengaged from learning and education and at risk of exclusion, predominantly NEET clients (a priority group for the LSC). Mechanisms were put in place to feed these disaffected young people onto workbased learning schemes, but given the nature of the client group this proved difficult to accomplish given that the distance to travel was significant and limited placements were available. In addition the client group required a significant amount of “hand holding” and intensive tailored support with outreach workers often having to deal with negative perceptions of the provision and parental pressure. However the project successfully engaged with ethnic young people to get them ready to enter mainstream provision and clients were offered access to taster courses to raise their awareness of workbased learning as an alternative to the traditional academic route their families wanted them to follow.

Engaging and re-engaging young people from ethnic minority groups, with a special focus on reaching/supporting those for whom workbased learning would be the most appropriate progression opportunity by out-reach activities

The client group suffered complex barriers to entry including: language and cultural barriers, poor interpersonal skills, low levels of self esteem and confidence to apply themselves for the workplace. Focusing support on out reach work to encourage clients to participate workbased learning routes enabled these barriers to be addressed to aid progression.

Delivery of vocational tasters coupled with key skills support to raise employability skills

Clients were provided with access to a package of customised support comprising of vocational tasters, IAG and key skills support to raise their employability skills. In addition colleges delivered workshops on areas such as customer care, retail, food hygiene, first aid and Health and Safety all of which were seen to be crucial in supporting ethnic young people’s chosen occupational areas. In addition suitable work placements were identified to allow clients to gain valuable work experience whilst building a portfolio of their achievements.

Project Outputs and Outcomes

Number of beneficiaries 91

Number of female beneficiaries 41

Number starting non qualification activity 79

Number completing work ready programme 63

Preston Seminar Group Gujerat Temple Preston

Report One from Ethnic Heritage Tuesday 1st March 2005 at Gujerat Temple Preston

Report of 1st March Event

Publicity for above day

Publicity for Event 1st March 2005

There are some course resources on the following site courtesy of Nelson and Colne College. Follow the instructions below to access the resources.

To access the online resource please log into http://www.nicenet.org To join the class for this project you will need a key which can be obtained by emailing webmaster@lancashirecolleges.org

Engaging Ethnic Heritage Young People Paperwork

Beneficiary Eligibility Table

Return Form

Read full Evaluation Report