Helping hands

摘要

It has long been proven that gaining skills, training and employment are critical to reducing reoffending and enabling young people to move on and live more productive lives. Clearly having a job provides structure and having money in your pocket, raises hope, self esteem and offers you the chance to plan. But, as we all know, for anyone with a criminal record, opportunities become limited - so no matter how much contrition and reparation a young person may have shown, it is often difficult for them to see a brighter future. Which is why I've been delighted to hear about two enterprises set up to provide jobs for young people who have successfully completed their community sentences and rehabilitated. Newcastle Youth Offending Team (YOT), in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA), has set up a social enterprise called the Skill Mill, which aims to provide young people employment opportunities in environmental management. To be offered a job by the Skill Mill, a young person will have already completed a linked reparation programme, which involves carrying out waterway maintenance work, such as litter and debris removal and building water channels. Only once a young person has completed their sentence and shown the right attitude will they be offered a job and training, which is delivered by East Durham College.