Freshstart training programme

Funding £710,000 from the European Social Fund
Aim To help young people avoid becoming involved in crime

A training programme in Wolverhampton is helping young people who may have found themselves on the wrong side of the law turn over a new leaf.

The first of its kind in the area, the Freshstart training programme helps those between 16- and 18-years-old who are at risk of offending, or who are on an order from the youth offending team.

Training is delivered through employment and training charity Steps to Work and is funded by the Learning and Skills Council's and West Midlands Leaders Board's European Social Fund programme.

Focusing on developing the learners' soft skills such as independent living and employability, it delivers training that is tailored to the needs of each learner.

In addition, learners can complete IT, literacy and numeracy qualifications at NVQ Levels 1 and 2.

Jordan Donnelly, 17, from Low Hill, says he initially went on the course because he was bored.

"There is very little to do around here and that is when people end up getting themselves in trouble," he says. "The training helped me improve my English and maths and I also got the chance to learn about things that I've never looked into before.

"If you ask me, the combination of learning new things while having somewhere to go each day is what makes Freshstart so successful."

The objective of the training is to equip learners with skills they can use when looking for employment.

Lynn Cocken, assistant manager at Freshstart, says: "Many of these young people just need a bit of support and that is where Freshstart plays a vital role.

"While our main objective is to equip the learners with transferable skills, we also give them encouragement which may have been lacking before."