Teenagers grab second chance

Georg von Harrach
The Politics Show East Midlands

The Politics Show East Midlands reports from West Nottinghamshire College on a radical initiative to reach teenagers who have fallen through the net.

A radical new scheme that is getting teenagers back into education.

The aim: to switch them back onto education.

And it seems to be succeeding.

College Principal, Asha Khemka, enthuses:

"There is nothing more rewarding than hearing first-hand from a student about from a student about how the project has changed their life."

The 'Neet' generation

There are 8,000 teenagers, between 16 and 18, in the East Midlands who the Government brands as "Neets" - not in employment, education and training.

Teenagers lacking in hope are finding a new direction

And the initiative is vital against a backdrop in which the recession is expected to see youth unemployment triple to 350,000 nationally within two years.

Staff at West Notts College recognise that if they are to stand a realistic chance of getting teenagers on side, they need to help them deal with their underlying problems.

These might include homelessness, abuse and drug addiction.

Shaun and Emma's stories

Shaun became homeless at 16 and started using drugs.

Things steadily deteriorated when he resorted to crime to feed his habit.

Now he is attending an Entry to Employment programme including a work placement at a construction company in Mansfield.

Gemma is 19 and lives with her boyfriend and his four-year-old daughter.

She took some convincing that college was for her.

But a single visit to the centre was enough to persuade her to enrol on the Level One motorcycle course.

Now she plans to pursue a career as a motorbike mechanic.

Lessons to learn

In the first year of the college initiative, 79 young people were referred to the scheme.

Sixty three enrolled and 49 successfully completed their programme.

So is it the kind of scheme the Government should be encouraging across the country?

Marie Ashby will be talking to Asha Khemka, as well as the Shadow Education Minister, Baroness Verma of Leicester and the Labour MP for Nottingham East, John Heppell.

John Heppell is now a Government whip and was until recently a member of the Children, School and Families Select Committee.

Watch the Politics Show in the East Midlands with Marie Ashby at 12:00 on Sunday on BBC One.

Ring us with your views on 0500 900 900 or email on the form below.

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