Helping young people get into long-term employment

Aim

Spear Bournemouth inspires and supports young people facing significant barriers, helping them move into sustained employment or education.

The Spear Programme exists to inspire and support young people facing barriers to employment, helping them move into sustainable work or education. Since its inception in Hammersmith, London back in 2004, the award-winning programme has expanded and now runs in eleven centres across the UK; eight across the London boroughs and in, Brighton, Leeds and Bournemouth. 

The programme lasts a year; six weeks of intense coaching aimed to get young people confident and work-ready, followed by a year of support encouraging greater independence in work or education. Participants on the Spear Programme are aged 16-24, are currently NEET (not in education, employment or training) and face at least one barrier to employment (most experience at least three). To ensure we are working with those who need us most, we work closely with local job centres and other referral agencies or charities. 

What sets us apart? 

• A year of support – with an intensive six-week foundation phase as well as continued support once in work to sustain and progress in their role.

 • Coaching approach – the team are experts in coaching, tackling the root causes stopping young people getting into work and raising self-awareness. The focuses on soft skills and mentality as well as hard skills brings about transformation in young people’s mindsets.

  • Work with businesses – bridging the gap between businesses and young people. The team get young people ready for work but also help businesses in recruiting and managing these young people well. 

• Community vision - working with local companies and service providers to get the community involved and working towards transformation together.

 • Collaborative approach – embedded in local churches and accountable to Resurgo, The Spear Trust has support from both local and national partners. 

Impact so far (2021)

• 56 young Bristol people enrolled in Spear
• 48 young people completed Spear: 
• 83% of our first cohort is in employment, education or training (EET) at 6 months.  
• 71.4% of our second cohort are EET at 4 months 
• 60% of our third cohort are EET at 3 months 
• We have a range of referrals from: Bournemouth JCP, Poole JCP, NHS Dorset, Steps to Wellbeing, BCP Council, Poole Grammar School and many recommendations from friends and family too.
• All of the trainees who have completed Spear so far have finished with an average work-ready score of 7.3/10 (where the start score has been around 3/10).They also finish with, on average, 13/15 of the work-ready resources they need to get a job or re enter employment.
• Around 9 of our trainees are in Kickstart roles.

The problem we seek to solve

Almost 2 million young people live in poverty in Britain today and we know that not only are young unemployed people twice as likely to suffer mental ill health, but young men who are NEET* are five times more likely to have a criminal record.

A staggering 27.5% of children in Bournemouth are living in poverty: Bournemouth has areas of high deprivation, including Boscombe Central, which is in the top 1% of deprived local areas in England.

Why it is urgent

Younger people from disadvantaged backgrounds find it hardest to enter stable employment in good economic times. They are the first group to be negatively affected by economic downturn.

 The impact of Covid-19 has compounded existing problems and caused redundancy and unemployment to rise faster this year than ever before.

 Young people say the biggest challenge they face today is being unable to find a productive place within society; ranking lack of employment opportunities above family problems and substance abuse. 

.........but it doesn’t have to be this way 

Bournemouth has a relatively healthy job market and a strong economy. .Entry level job opportunities are available, particularly in the service sector. Bournemouth is also the fastest growing location in the UK for tech jobs, with over 400 creative and digital agencies in and around Bournemouth.

Empowering young people to find work changes society for the better. 

In their own words

Spear was about learning I have a voice, that I’m important and that I shouldn't be afraid to contribute to everything. So now I can get up and tell my story in front of all of you and not feel wrong or that I shouldn’t be talking…It’s been life-changing …thank you to my peers and coaches for changing me as a person and for realising my value. – Spear Trainee

When I was younger I didn’t know how to deal with my anger. I sat in my room and wasted away a few years of my life. I went to a few schools all across the UK who helped in different ways. But it wasn’t until I got in contact with Spear that I realised most people do want to help you and do want you to succeed at life.  - Spear Trainee

It’s given me this hope that I can do what I want to do and I can achieve the kind of goals I’m setting for myself…It has opened so many doors for me and it’s something that’s honestly changed me so much. – Spear Trainee 

This project successfully funded on 4th May 2022