Clean slate for youths; Scheme gives teens another chance to succeed

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 3, 2008

Byline: By GARETH DEIGHAN Industrial Reporter

YOUNG people from across the region are getting a second chance at education.

Oakfield Solutions works in partnership with eight other organisations in Newcastle and is equipped to industry standards to give young people over the age of 16 the chance to develop skills they otherwise wouldn't be able to.

The group specialises in the delivery of post-16 entry to employment (E2E) learning and use a wide range of work placements to put people in the best position to get a job or to access further learning.

Gemma Posteltwait started E2E at Oakfield's Salon Skills in November 06. She was quite shy and needed support with literacy and numeracy.

Gemma enjoyed the beauty side of the business and was motivated to make something of herself.

She received one-to-one assistance and coaching and was encouraged to engage in new social situations and to expand her comfort zone.

She then gained a work placement for two days a week at U Salon. In March, 2007 Gemma went to college and was named top student in her group.

She has since completed her level-one NVQ and is working towards her level two in beauty thera py.

Peter McAteer joined the P4P programme at Oakfield in September 2007. He needed extra support with confidence-building and with literacy and numeracy.

Through one-to-one sessions, his skills improved and he has since passed the NCFE certificate in adult literacy at levels one and two and also the NCFE certificate in adult numeracy at level one.

He will sit numeracy at level two soon.

He said: "After I left school with no qualifications I was sitting around doing nothing.

"Now, thanks to Oakfield, I've got the qualifications that will get me work, and they've helped me with other things too, like my confidence.

"I'm now on a work placement at with the parks and countryside team at Newcastle Council and applying for apprenticeships"

Patrick Tully, general manager of Oakfield Solutions, art of the Trinity Special School, said: "Our role is breaking down barriers that young people need to overcome before they're ready for the world of employment or more learning."