College and council partner up to support young Blackpool NEETs

A new programme will launch next month to help 16-24-year-olds in Blackpool who are not in employment, education or training (NEET)to find and pursue a career.

New Directions will be delivered by Blackpool Council’s youth employment hub, The Platform, along with Blackpool and the Fylde College (B&FC).

Set to launch on Wednesday 4 September, the programme aims to bridge the gap between education and employment for local youth. The Platform and B&FC will work together to provide a whole host of tools for young people to explore their strengths, skills and attributes.

The Platform and the college already have an established relationship, with B&FC providing regular sessions at The Platform which help young people with CVs, apprenticeships and general career advice.

The programme will run once weekly for 13 weeks and will be delivered by a specialist B&FC careers adviser at The Platform, as well as masterclasses taught by expert tutors at the college campuses.

If before the end of the 13 weeks a young person has found their chosen career path, they can step off the programme and join directly onto their ideal college course. Anyone who completes the 13 weeks will also progress onto a college course of their choice.

Industries available to explore include computing, construction, childcare, motor vehicle and more.

Since The Platform officially opened, the service has helped a total of 1,277 young people take their next career step. 

Coun Kath Benson, cabinet member for young people and aspiration at Blackpool Council, said: "The overall aim is to support young local people into work, training and education - developing skills, providing practical help and building confidence to ready them for an exciting future, and the New Directions programme is set to be that extra helping hand for those who need it.

“B&FC have played a crucial role in the success of The Platform with their dedicated weekly sessions and heavy involvement in the service, so it is amazing that we can now offer an alternative pathway into education thanks to the college."

The Platform was launched by Blackpool Council in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and was funded initially through the Community Renewal Fund. The project is now funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.