We were delighted to host a visit by Baroness Stowell of Beeston, the newly appointed chair of the Charity Commission, to our programme in Nottingham.

Baroness Stowell, who is from the city, visited ThinkForward as part of a fact-finding mission to learn more about the third sector.  It was her first visit to a Nottingham charity since taking up the role in February this year.

ThinkForward has been working in Nottingham since 2016 and is in five schools in north Nottingham and St Ann’s. We provide a coach who works with challenging and often disadvantaged students who are identified as being at high risk of being not in employment, education or training (NEET) when they leave education, with all the negative consequences that is likely to have on their future.

Sally is a Year 11 student at Ellis Guilford. She met Baroness Stowell and spoke to her about the benefits of being on the ThinkForward programme. Sally said: ‘It was really interesting to meet Baroness Stowell and inspirational to learn that she is in the House of Lords. It really opened my mind to what it’s possible to achieve if you work hard and put your mind to something.’

Baroness Stowell, with her interest in education and how it affects social mobility, was particularly keen to find out more about a charity in her home city that helps young people succeed.

She commented: “I would like to thank the trustees, staff and volunteers at ThinkForward for giving up their time to meet me today, and also to thank one of their corporate partners, KPMG Nottingham, for hosting us. I greatly enjoyed my visit and was especially pleased to meet one of the charity’s young beneficiaries, Sally, who is relishing the support she is receiving from ThinkForward because, she told me, she believes those involved in the charity are genuine and really do care about helping people like her.

‘She is clearly embracing everything they can do to help her be the best she can be. Sally is certainly an inspiration and I liked her motto: ‘every opportunity is an open door’.

“I was also delighted to meet the team from ThinkForward. Together they gave me a complete picture of ThinkForward’s inception, progress, arrival in Nottingham, and the impact it is having on the lives of young people. They made clear the charity’s success relies on its commitment to delivering its purpose and demonstrating the impact of their work.”

Also at the meeting was Kat Kirk from KPMG. The accountancy firms is one of ThinkForward’s business mentoring partners, and staff volunteers mentor Y10 students at Ellis Guildford School. 

Daniel Gray who runs the ThinkForward programme in the city said: “We are delighted Baroness Stowell chose to visit ThinkForward in Nottingham and learn more about how we work with some of the city’s most disadvantaged young people. This year we will be expanding to a sixth school, enabling ThinkForward to reach up to 220 students, and support them into employment, training or further education.” 

 

Ossama is  former ThinkForward student. He went to Swanlea School in Tower Hamlets, London, where his coach Ash helped him choose the right career path.

‘I thought about going to university, but I knew it wasn’t really for me because I’m not good at learning in a classroom, I need to learn in a more practical way and that’s one of the ways I benefit from doing an apprenticeship. 

I didn’t like school at all and wanted to get out as soon as possible. Ash, my ThinkForward coach knew I didn’t enjoy school and he really helped me think about life and look at the big picture. Together we worked out that an apprenticeship could be the right thing for me.

After school I went to a training provider called QA, and did a traineeship for IT and Business Admin apprenticeships which helped to prepare me for getting an apprenticeship. I did a work placement with an organisation called Free2learn and when that finished they offered me a 14 month apprenticeship.

It’s much harder to get a job if you don’t have work experience, but doing an apprenticeship means I can get qualifications while working.  I’m doing a BTEC level 3 in business admin while working with Free2learn.

I choose to work five days and study at home in the evening. I didn’t pass my maths or English GCSEs, so I am doing Level 2 functional skills in those subjects instead, as part of my apprenticeship. I’m older now and have a different attitude to learning too, I realise how important it is.

Doing an apprenticeship means I am working, learning and earning all at the same time. I’m getting paid and I’m not building up any debt. I’ve got two months more to do on my apprenticeship and I’ve already been told that I’ve got a secure position at the end. I’ll get a pay rise then too.

I think apprenticeships are the right thing for some people. An apprenticeship was definitely the right option for me. I really enjoy what I do, and I feel confident doing it.

Two or three years ago I didn’t have a plan and I couldn’t have imagined then, that I would be working and doing an apprenticeship now. My next ambition is to become an office manager.’

 

Our pilot programme for young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities started in September 2017 and is operating in Islington and Kent, with 90 students enrolled.

DFN-MoveForward provides young people on the programme with long-term specialised support, to enable them to move into sustained paid work. It starts in Year 9 and continues beyond entry into paid employment, ensuring students are supported on every step of their journey into work.

This half-term, young people are enjoying lots of exciting business insight days, one of the key features of the programme. These days offer the students the chance to visit different employers, learn more about the career options on offer, and find out what skills, experience and qualifications are needed to get a job.

DFN-MoveForward staff have organised an exciting and mixed programme of insight days to cover a broad range of careers that students have shown an interest in.

Young people who are thinking about working in the media will be visiting the BBC Radio 1 and 1 Extra studies at the BBC headquarters in Oxford Street, central London. They’ll find out about the different roles in radio, have a career talk and Q&A  and get a tour of the studios.

Also lined up is a trip to The Mill, an Oscar-winning film, animation and special effects company, again based in central London but with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The company won its Oscar for work on Gladiator and has also worked on the Harry Potter films and gaming including Fifa 18.

Young people will get a careers talk covering positions across the company including finance, creative and marketing, and learn about internships and runner roles and how to apply. There will also be a session on virtual reality and a tour.

For those interested in careers in art and design The Goldsmiths Centre has created a special jewellery making session tailored to the needs and interests of the young people. They will get the chance to make a pendant or letter key chain.

A number of DFN-MoveForward young people are thinking of working with animals so we have arranged an insight day at the headquarters of The Dogs Trust. There will be an activity on animal welfare and a talk on the different roles at the charity.

Finally, an insight day at Fitness First will support the students who are keen to explore opportunities in the leisure industry. There will  be a tour of the club, a chance to design a workout aimed at young people and the opportunity to learn about the variety of jobs in the sector.

Vincenza De Falco, one of the DFN-MoveForward coaches, said: “The networks and contacts that we have at ThinkForward have helped us to put together a great programme for half-term and these are opportunities that the young people wouldn’t have if they were not on DFN-Move-Forward.

“Insight days are all about opening up opportunities and exposing students to careers that they might be interested in, and also showing them different careers. Many of these young people are only familiar with school and college life, so getting insights into the working environment more generally are really useful.  It’s also really motivating for them.”