Winsford NEETs get boost with course to build self-worth

Youth Fed, a Cheshire-based charity, recognises just how easy it is for young people to find themselves out of education, training, or employment - known as NEETs - in their teens and early twenties.

It also recognises how difficult it can be for them to connect with the options they have for building a better life going forward.

Finding themselves outside the main flow can itself have a detrimental impact on their self-esteem, trapping them in vicious circle which can be difficult to break free of, the charity says. 

Youth Fed aims to make a positive difference by way of a 12-week course, the Better Start programme, aimed at building young adult’s self-worth by making them accountable for something, and opening their eyes to what’s actually on offer around them.

Once they’ve completed the 12-week course, the young people decide what they want to do to celebrate. In the past, this has included trips to Alton Towers, escape rooms, go-carting, and minigolf.

Leah runs most of the sessions, but those which lead to external accreditation, like first aid, are run by specialists from outside (Image: Youth Fed)

Careers progression adviser for Youth Fed, Leah Owen, who coordinates the course, explained what it’s all about.

“It’s really about taking positive steps towards work by building confidence and self-esteem,” she said.

“We teach them important life skills which are also vital in getting them ready for work, providing a stepping stone to the next stage of their lives.

“A lot of the people we work with didn’t actually finish school, so they haven’t been in a group situation for a long time. This can make the idea of work quite scary.

“It’s also nice for them to meet other people in the same boat, and for them to know they’re not on their own.

Leah (second from right) teaching household budget management, including cooking healthy and affordable meals, to participants Lola Woodall, Lucy, and Melody Anglin (Image: Youth Fed)

“One of the outcomes is developing pride in your community. One way we aim to do this is though charity work.

“One of the groups recently raised funds for South Cheshire Ferret Rescue Centre. It’s a small charity chosen by the young people, as they wanted the money they raised - £480 - to have the biggest impact possible. 

“The money went towards building some new rehoming sheds for ferrets so they had somewhere safe to sleep.

“Fundraising is great for confidence building because it involves a lot of interaction, with both people and authorities.

Graduation celebrations to date have included go-carting (pictures) and trips to Alton Towers (Image: Youth Fed)

“I’m there just to guide them. They make all the decisions. It’s about taking ownership and having something to be accountable for.”

Courses are individually tailored to the needs of the group; some might benefit from drug and alcohol awareness sessions, while other might be ready to meet local employers.

Better Start is open to anyone aged 16-24, but ideally, the project is trying to reach those currently out of education, training, or work.

The next course running in Winsford starts on Monday, January 6, and you can register or find out more by emailing Leah Owen at: leah.owen@youthfed.org. 

She added: “In terms of success stories, we recently had a young woman who was new to the area and struggled with her mental health to the point where she would rarely leave the house. 

“First, she met another woman at the group and the two became great friends, which was lovely.

“We then introduced her to someone from the NHS, who specialises in recruiting young people, and she applied for a job at one of our major hospitals.

“She’s now working there full-time. It was a complete 180. She went from not leaving the house to having a best friend and a full-time job.

“It’s genuinely heartwarming.”