Maximizing opportunities for NCS Graduates Benny Goodman Director of NCS at The Challenge
The Challenge Network Our vision A more integrated society where there is understanding and appreciation of each other s differences. Our mission We design and deliver programmes that bring different people together to develop their confidence and skills in understanding and connecting with others. 2
Our activities HeadStart gets young people volunteering in their local community so that they mix and meet with people from all walks of life. It inspires young people to volunteer by guaranteeing everyone who does so an interview for a part-time job. There were 2,357 participants in 2016 Step Forward is a socially mixed apprenticeship programme. It aims to create the most employable 19 year-olds through placing school leavers into employment, providing job specific and personal development training and building a diverse network of friends from across the economy to grow their networking skills and knowledge of different careers. There were 224 participants in 2016 It is for It is for It is for 16-17 year-olds 17 year-olds 18 year-old school leavers 3 The Commission is an independent review that brings together experts from across Britain to explore how integrated Britain is, what impact that has on the country and what can be done about it. Three reports published and multiple media hits in 2015.
Working in partnership with NCS to offer development opportunities for NCS graduates Opportunities to continue the NCS journey available to all Varied enough in structure and content to be accessible and engaging for different cohorts of young people Ensuring young people s voice is effectively utilised in the planning, delivery and evaluation of NCS graduate programmes 4
Recognising the importance of enabling NCS graduates to continue their social action journey and development after graduating from the NCS Leveraging the link between social mobility & social cohesion Expanding on new networks initiated on NCS programme Ensuring that NCS extension and graduate programmes are well understood by schools 5
How the potential of NCS graduates can be harnessed by voluntary organisations and how to deliver vital employment development opportunities for NCS graduates Build capacity in local organisations not previously engaged with young people Involve organisations in risk free engagements on the core NCS Programme that build their understanding NCS graduates first-hand accounts hugely persuasive 6
Providing NCS graduates with an exclusive range of volunteering opportunities NCS GRADUATES VOLUNTEER 16 OR MORE HOURS ACCESS FOUR SKILLS WORKSHOPS GET A GUARANTEED JOB / PLACEMENT INTERVIEW Volunteering: We broker young people into high quality volunteering opportunities across a number of different sectors. We attend their first day of volunteering, and offer light touch support. Skills workshops: Participants can access four interactive workshops aimed at developing their employability skills including goal-setting, authentic communication and interview techniques, CV building and speed networking. A guaranteed job interview: All participants completing 16 volunteering hours can access a job interview for a paid part-time job, internship or apprenticeship with one of our business partners.
Providing NCS graduates with exclusive range volunteering opportunities Eight main funding partners Over 200 charity partners 99% of participants feel more confident 68% of our young people that attend interview after completing their volunteering are classed as work-ready by employers - up to four times the success rate of non-headstart candidates that interview for the same roles. 500 young people have secured paid employment through the programme. 59% of participants from BAME backgrounds and 23% received free school meals
Enhancing the employability of 17-20 year-olds An award-winning apprenticeship scheme across London Cultivates useful skills for work & study through work experience, study, additional mentoring & a diverse network of contacts. With 90% of employers claiming that soft skills are more important than qualifications, we work with our apprentices to create young professionals that can add real value to a business in just 12 months. We work with employers all over London and provide seven different courses from Hospitality to IT 9
Enhancing the employability of 17-20 year-olds Our pass rate is 84% (17% higher than the national average) 4/5 graduates are better at understanding others different from themselves 90% of graduates are in full-time work or education (100% one year later) 68% of apprentices are from BAME backgrounds 32% of our apprentices had received free school meals 10
Effective graduate engagement is at the heart of the longer term success of the NCS programme 11