Scheme to help young get skills is extended

The Lancashire Employment and Skills Executive Partnership secured £4m in April 2016 from the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency to work with 2,500 young people across Lancashire.

More than 2,600 young people have already received support through the Moving On programme exceeding original expectations. Almost 1,200 have since progressed onto further learning, an apprenticeship or employment.

The success of the programme has resulted in it being extended to the end of March 2019, with a further £400,000 of funding awarded.

The programme provides employability skills, one to one support in English and maths and careers advice to young people aged 15 to 18.

Rosie Fearn, operations director at LESEP, said: “Moving On has already had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of young people in Lancashire, and the provision of additional funding means even more are set to benefit. As well as improving the prospects of young people, the programme also helps to ensure that local businesses have access to a skilled workforce, supporting economic growth.

“We’d encourage people to take advantage of the programme before the funding comes to an end in March 2019.”

Young people looking for help getting into work, or employers looking to offer a work placement, job or apprenticeship to a young person can contact [email protected] or visit www.movingonlancs.co.uk.