A group of 12 young people in Milton Keynes aged 16 to 19 years were presented with their certificates on Friday 17 December after completing a six week programme run by Connexions:MK, Milton Keynes Council’s advice and guidance service for young people.
Known as ‘Reaching Out’, the programme is designed to help unemployed young people develop their personal and social skills to help prepare them for getting back into education, or starting work or training. Reaching Out offers a variety of workshops, discussion groups, guest talks, and activities including interview skills, CV building, teamworking, assertiveness, self esteem and managing stress. This is the sixth time that Connexions has run Reaching Out, with most of the young people taking part in the programme moving from being unemployed to getting a job or training place.
The young people’s advice and guidance service is part of Milton Keynes Council’s integrated youth support service and works with partners and local organisations to make a difference to the lives of 13-19 year olds, offering advice and support with a variety of issues including careers, learning, relationships, health and money.
A key aim for Connexions is to reduce the number of young people aged 16-18 years not in education, employment or training.
Milton Keynes Council’s Youth Champion Cllr. Sam Potts says: “We are pleased that despite the continued economic downturn, young people in Milton Keynes are managing to hold their own during the recession by remaining in, or securing, work, training and education opportunities. The latest figures, for November 2010, show that the percentage of 16-18 year olds in Milton Keynes not in work or learning (5.4%) is lower than at the same time last year (5.7%) despite the widely-reported deteriorating employment situation.”
Young people can talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser at school and college, or by dropping into or calling the Connexions Centre in Milton Keynes, or visiting the Virtual Connexions Centre at www.mysaymk.com:
Connexions:MK Centre
The Point, 602 Midsummer Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes MK9 3ND
Tel: 01908 398300
Email: connexionsmk@prospects.co.uk
Virtual Connexions Centre: www.mysaymk.com
