COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT
REPORT TO:
LEADER AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE – 22ND APRIL 2015
REPORT SUBJECT: PROGRESS REPORT ON PREVENT 14-19 AND
SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT
REPORT AUTHOR:
JOANNE SIMS, YOUTH SERVICES MANAGER
LEAD OFFICER/
DEPARTMENT
CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Summary Report
1.0
PURPOSE OF REPORT
The purpose of the report is to update the Executive on the
progress of the Youth Services Prevent project since the closure
of the ESF programme in October 2014 and to be made aware of
service continuity proposals highlighted in paragraph 3.6.
2.0
LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGIES
-
3.0
Single Integrated Plan
Education Improvement Plan
Corporate Improvement Plan
NEETs Reduction Strategy 2011-2014
Youth Engagement and Progression Framework
SUMMARY/PROPOSALS
In early 2011, the Prevent 14-19 team was appointed, consisting
of 1 Co-ordinator and 6 Prevent Youth Workers. The Prevent 1419 programme was part of a regional Prevent 14 – 19 programme
across five authorities to identify and work with young people who
are currently or at risk of becoming disengaged with education,
employment or training (NEET). The project was funded by the
European Social Fund, WEFO’s Priority 1 programme, which
provided three years funding for each of the five authorities with
Bridgend County Borough Council being the lead sponsor.
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Over the three years the local project worked with 806 young
people, with numerous positive outcomes.
Since the
establishment of the Prevent 14-19 programme, Blaenau Gwent
has seen a steady reduction in the numbers of young people
becoming NEET from 8.7% (74 young people) in 2009/10 to 6.6%
(51 young people) in 2010/11 to 4.2% (33 young people) in
2011/12 to 4.6% (34 young people) in 2012/13 and recently 3.9%
(28 young people) in 2013/14 (Official Report to be released April
2014.). The overall picture is a steady reduction and we have
met the target for this year (target 3.9%). The approach taken by
the project has been to work with the young person, addressing
all their needs, rather than just their learning. This has resulted in
a much more effective, longer lasting positive outcome for the
young people.
In October 2014, C.M.T agreed to a partial retention of the
Prevent programme until the end of financial year 2014/15 to be
funded from under spends in the Skills and Work Preparation
portfolio. Following March, funding has now been secured for an
additional six months via the Regional Collaboration Fund to
retain the 3 Prevent youth workers until the next ESF programme,
which is hoped to start in September. The new ESF programme
will be called Inspire to Achieve.
4.0
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that Executive Committee:
 recognises the work of the Prevent project and how it has
contributed to the further reduction of young people
becoming NEET this year to 3.9%.
 consider the service continuity proposals identified in
paragraph 4.
 receives further monitoring reports with regards to the
Youth Services Prevent project.
CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
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DETAILED REPORT
1.0
PURPOSE
The purpose of the report is to update the Executive on the progress
of the Youth Services Prevent project since the closure of the ESF
programme in October 2014.
2.0
BACKGROUND
2.1
This project was part of a regional Prevent 14 – 19 programme
across five authorities to identify and work with young people who
are currently or at risk of becoming disengaged with education,
employment or training (NEET). The project was funded by the
European Social Fund, WEFO’s Priority 1 programme, which
provided three years funding for each of the five authorities with
Bridgend County Borough Council being the lead sponsor.
2.2
The need for this project was identified through the ever increasing
numbers of young people who were leaving school and not
remaining in education, employment or training. In 2009/10, 8.7%
of young people (74 young people) leaving Year 11 in Blaenau
Gwent became NEET (not in education, employment or training),
the third highest in Wales. There is much proven evidence to show
that young people who become NEET at this age are much more
likely to struggle to maintain employment or learning as adults and
are also at more risk of ill health. Subsequently, the local authority
developed its NEETs Reduction Strategy in 2011 which outlines its
vision for these young people and set targets to reduce the number
of young people becoming NEET at this age. This also formed part
of the Local Authority’s Post Estyn Re-inspection Action Plan in
2011 as Recommendation 5 - Work with partners to secure
sustainable improvements in the percentage of post 16
learners in full time education training or employment.
2.3
The strategy is now supported by the Welsh Government’s new
Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (YEPF), which
outlines what Local Authorities are expected to have in place to
support young people who are risk or who are currently NEET.
2.4
The Prevent 14-19 programme has been addressing issues of
disengagement and raising aspirations and since October 2014 has
been supporting young people identified through the Early
Identification process, as part of the YEPF. Raising the levels of
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self-confidence of young learners has been at the heart of this
programme, as has the commitment to address basic skills deficits.
The Youth Engagement and Progression Framework outlines the
approach to supporting these young people and in particular the
need to allocate a lead worker to all young people identified in
need of support. Currently, the Prevent 14 – 19 Team is the main
Lead Worker provider as it is the only dedicated team which
focuses on these young people’s needs.
3.0
PRESENT POSITION
3.1
In March 2014, 1160 individuals between the ages of 18-24 were
receiving Job Seekers Allowance (also classed as NEET). Since
the establishment of the Prevent 14-19 programme, Blaenau Gwent
has seen a steady reduction in the numbers of young people
becoming NEET from 8.7% (74 young people) in 2009/10 to 6.6%
(51 young people) in 2010/11 to 4.2% (33 young people) in 2011/12
to 4.6% (34 young people) in 2012/13 and recently 3.9% (28 young
people) in 2013/14 (Official Report to be released April 2014). The
Raising Aspirations Group, a strategic multi-agency partnership, has
overseen the implementation of the Youth Engagement and
Progression Framework and oversees the Prevent function as part
of that. This steady reduction is attributed in part to improved
communication and planning between partners but particularly to
the dedicated focus of the Prevent 14-19 Team.
3.2
Excellent links have been established with appropriate partners
including Careers Wales, Coleg Gwent, Work Based learning
providers and wider Regeneration, Schools, Inclusion including the
Education Welfare Service, Youth Offending Service, Social
Services, Communities First and a range of voluntary sector
agencies.
3.3
The learning over this period has been that there is no quick fix to
supporting vulnerable young people to remain in education,
employment or training. When young people are supported
holistically, addressing the barriers in their lives and over a longterm period, young people are more able to sustain their place in
education, employment and/ or training.
3.4
Since October 2014, 88 young people have been engaged or are
continuing to engage with PreVENT support. The main focus of
work has been individual support, with group work opportunities
running in Abertillery and Brynmawr Comprehensive Schools.
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Discussions are also in place with Ebbw Fawr Learning Community
to offer support for young people who have been identified through
the early identification tool and this support will be offered to all
schools. Strong links have been made with the under 25’s advisor
in Job Centre Plus and referral are made from JCP every week.
3.5
Since September 2014, PreVENT has been continuing the
Attendance Project, which is an alternative curriculum for young
people in year 11 with extremely low attendance levels. Out of the 9
young people referred, 8 are still successfully engaging and being
fully supported with their transition options for post year 11. So far
the young people have achieved the following:







Healthy Living – Level 1 & Entry 3
Confidence and self esteem – Level 1
Welsh Culture – ACU level Entry 3
Eating disorder – Level 1
Photo Diary ACU – Entry Level 2
Bronze Level Youth Achievement Award
Bike Maintenance Course where participants were able to
take a working bike home with them to keep
They have also completed a variety of units through PSE and are
looking at obtaining the equivalent of two GCSE’s by June
In addition, all young people are currently working towards:
 Essential Skills Wales (ESW) English and are on track to
complete by June 2015 (Entry Level 3 and Level 1)
 Two young people are on track to achieve ESW Math (Entry
Level 3) by June 2015
 Supporting 3 young people to complete their GCSE exams
within their school
 All young people are also attending a two days a week work
placement with Grow Educations. They are engaging with a
number of activities including boxing, hair and beauty,
construction and special effects make up. Feedback from the
young people so far is very positive saying the staff are very
supportive.
The biggest impact on the group has been the increase of
attendance levels. There is an average of 98% attendance for the
project. The attendance levels of each young person in the
previous academic year ranged from 10% to 81%, an average of
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56%. It is clear to see that the support provided has impacted
enormously on the young people’s attendance.
3.6
New Business Plans are being developed for the next round of ESF
funding, and the hoped start date for the new programme is
September 2015.
4.
STATEMENT ON FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1
The interim funding from Education finishes in March 2015, however
funding has been secured through the LIFT 14-24 programme,
funded by the Regional Collaboration Fund, to retain the support
until September 2015. Therefore, there should be no gap in
provision if the new ESF programme, Inspire to Achieve, begins in
September 2015.
5.0
PROPOSAL
5.1
It is proposed that Executive recognises the work of the Prevent
project and how it has contributed to the further reduction of young
people becoming NEET this year to 3.9%.
6.0
CONCLUSION
6.1
There has been significant progress with the Prevent Project. The
work of the project has helped the authority achieve and surpass its
objectives within the Youth Engagement and Progression
Framework.
CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
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