When the government first announced the Kickstart scheme offering 6-month placements for unemployed 16-24 year olds in September 2020, Efficiency North's charitable arm EN:Able Communities immediately saw the possibilities the scheme offered to support young people into employment.
The charity has been proud to act as one of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Kickstart Gateways since its appointment in January 2021, knowing the importance of capturing the true potential of each individual to a career and sustainable employment.
EN:Able Communities’ contribution has enabled support for a range of organisations large and small, within a variety of sectors. Over the last 13 months this has resulted in 34 high quality Kickstart placements and counting, all providing young people with six months of excellent experience with opportunities to progress.
Employability training
EN:Able Communities has also provided the additional benefits of Employability training for the Kickstarters delivered by EN:Able Futures Social Value Advisor Caroline Lee. Caroline has kept in touch with Kickstarters throughout their placements to support them on their individual journeys and help them with CV, interview and social media techniques for success to assist them with future job seeking. Due to the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, the training had to be conducted remotely.
Progress into full-time jobs
The charity has been particularly pleased to witness Kickstarters progressing into full time employment with the companies who’ve provided their placement.
EN:Procure is delighted that one of their placements, Curtis Evans, who has been a great asset during his placement, will be staying on as a full-time member of the team.
Curtis is one of many. The 4 young people who completed their 6-month placement with Select Energy Services Ltd were all offered full-time jobs in January, as was the Kickstarter working for Revive Leeds at their Kirkstall site.
4 of the 8 young people placed with The Conservation Volunteers in Leeds have also started full time employment with the organisation.
Jonathan Hill graduated with a Civil Engineering degree during the pandemic and struggled to find work.
Following his placement with LAR he is now a full-time Trainee Contracts Manager with a company car.
First Kickstarter Isla McRae moves into charity career
EN:Able Communities’ first Kickstarter Isla McRae completed her placement as a Digital Marketing Assistant with the Bishop Simeon Trust charity which supports vulnerable children living in the poorest communities of South Africa. She returned to continue her higher education pursuing a Masters degree in Social Research. She then plans to pursue a PhD focussing on Syrian Refugees’ feelings of belonging in Manchester. Isla had wanted to work within the charity sector in developing nations but didn’t know what that entailed. The Kickstart placement provided her with experience which helped her decide this was the right career path for her. She plans to keep in touch with Bishop Simeon Trust and continue to give them ad-hoc support.
We wish all the Kickstarters good luck and success in their future careers.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EN:ABLE COMMUNITIES DWP KICKSTART GATEWAY HERE
