Connexions Nottinghamshire has outstripped other Connexions Services and, in doing so, has smashed the targets set down by the Government.
In a report published today, the National Audit Office (NAO) confirms that nationally Connexions is providing a valuable service, making good progress in supporting young people into work and learning and improving the way they receive advice and guidance.
The NAO reports that the Phase 1 and 2 Partnerships - those that started prior to September 2002 - have substantially reduced the number of young people aged 16-18 not in education, employment nor training, known as 'NEET'. This figure had remained static and the Government set a target for Connexions to reduce the NEET figure by 10 per cent over the two years from November 2002 to November 2004.
Halfway through this two-year period, the 28 Partnerships in Phases 1 and 2 are showing an 8 per reduction. Nottinghamshire - a phase 2 partnership - rose to the challenge, achieving an impressive 50 per cent reduction in the number of NEET over the county and city by November 2003. Over this time, Nottinghamshire slashed its numbers of NEET young people from 2504 to 1216.
There are many reasons why Connexions Nottinghamshire has achieved such outstanding results. Firstly, the organisation has put a lot of its resources and time into targeting young people in the NEET group. Secondly, the service works well in partnership with other key agencies - the most important being the close partnerships that have evolved between Connexions and the Learning and Skills Council, e2e providers, the Youth Service and, of course, schools and colleges. Thirdly, young people are involved in all aspects of the service, from sitting on the Board of Directors, to the designing of centres and promotional materials and the creation of policies which lead the service.
Jean Pardoe, Chief Executive of Connexions explains why she feels Nottinghamshire has performed so well: " I am absolutely thrilled about these results. The rising number of young people that fall into the NEET category has been a long-standing problem in Nottinghamshire and for the first time we have seen a positive change and the lives of young people have been substantially improved.
"This achievement has been as a result of strong partnership working across agencies, particularly the LSC; through dedication of our Personal Advisers, who have worked tirelessly to help young people; and, naturally, the ambition and drive of the young people themselves."
It is undoubtedly the Learning and Skills Council's innovative Entry to Employment and Modern Apprenticeship programmes, which have greatly contributed to Connexions achieving this success, John Endersby, Head of Participation, at the Learning and Skills Council Nottinghamshire, says: 'We congratulate the Nottinghamshire Connexions Service on this achievement, which is the culmination of months and indeed years of hard work.
"As the organisation responsible for planning and funding post-16 learning, other than in the university sector, it falls to the LSC to ensure that there is appropriate learning provision in place to meet the needs of the NEET group. We have found that the Entry to Employment programme, which provides employment tasters combined with a range of modules to boost personal and social skills, has proved the ideal route to help many in the NEET group back into learning. We are looking to expand this provision over the coming months to ensure that, in partnership with Connexions, we are able to help more young people appreciate that learning is the right option for them.'
While the results achieved are excellent, Connexions Nottinghamshire has no intention of resting on its laurels and intends to reach young people sooner so that they are more aware of the issues that will affect them if they opt out of education, employment, or training.
