A careers fest has been held in partnership with Liverpool Council to try to help young people into education, training and jobs.
Career Connect has recently been awarded, by Liverpool City Council, the contract for services to support young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET). This new partnership has a particular focus supporting vulnerable groups including young people with an education health care plan, those supported by the Youth Offending Service, are looked after or leaving care.
Following opening speeches there was entertainment from Voice Kids stars Hayla Essen Danns (12) and Taira Leigh Ferns (13). Some organisations in attendance included; Liverpool Football Club, Mersey Care NHS Trust, The Princes Trust and JM Excellence in Training.
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CEO of Career Connect Sheila Clark told the ECHO: "Career Connect is important because we deliver career guidance. It can make such a positive difference for a young person to find the right steps for them.
"It can make a difference for the individual, the economy and society as a whole. Events held in an area like Toxteth really show local solutions matter".
Their first drop-in event gave young people aged 16 – 18 and those up to 25 with an Educational Health Care Plan the opportunity to speak with organisations and businesses.
In a recent 2023 research by Career Connect it showed a third of young people in certain wards make up two thirds of the not in education or training (NEET) young people. They see this as disproportionate and view their role in how they can make a difference locally.
Sheila added: "We produced a report at Careers England for the government that shows in 2009 the average spend per young person on careers guidance was £159. Today it's £68.
“Liverpool continues to prioritise support for young people. An event like Careers Fest shows that”.
Attendee, 18-year-old Moayed said: "Career Connect is very good. I’m looking for a job in sport, maybe as a physio or football coach. Also looking for electrical engineering, giving myself choices”.
Keira, 16, added: "I came to find out what type of job I’d like to do or where exactly I’d like to go, like college. It's really informative about what to do, where they are and what they do exactly".
Liverpool Cabinet member for Employment, Educational Attainment & Skills Lila Bennett added: "We’re committed to young people. Education, employment and training is at the cornerstone of young people’s lives and we need the best of it.
"Getting advice, information and guidance when looking for opportunities, they need the best professionals. I’m passionate about who’s doing that.
"We’ve got a long way to go but Career Connect are doing a fabulous job in the community. It's a fabulous partnership and one we hope to continue".
Toxteth ward councillor, Rahima Farah said: "We know Toxteth has high deprivation, unemployment, poor housing and education. With this service we need to make sure our youth have access to opportunities to get into employment.
"It makes them have a better future, targeted by training, jobs and opportunity and getting into other avenues including vocational training".
Career Connect advisor, Amnah Vicars said: "For 20 years I've been providing careers advice in the community for young people and their families to support as many young people as I can into education, employment or training. Career Fest was one initiative that enabled us to support over 90 young people in one go".
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