Tag Archives: work readiness

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REEP Reaps Rewards

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Amy receives her certificate from Exeter City Council Chief Executive
Amy is congratulated by Karime Hassan CE Exeter City Council at St Loye’s Exeter

Further good news! Just three weeks after completing the ten day intensive REEP programme three young people have already started work and continue to be touch with their volunteer mentors. Charlie, 22, from Cowick was the first to be offered an opportunity to work for an IT company in Pynes Hill. Jemima, 19, from Exeter, is now very happily working at a café, where the owners look after her really well. Whilst working, Jemima is looking at ways of accessing University to do a Midwifery course.

On Saturday we heard that Amy who was particularly lacking in confidence has been offered a job in the tourist industry at Crealy which is regarded as the South West’s number one family day out. Amy’s story is particularly inspiring as her first interview with Crealy coincided with day one of the REEP programme and she did not get the job. Her lack of self-confidence was the main barrier. Nevertheless, despite initially feeling crushed by this news, Amy picked herself up and battled on during the next 10 days of the programme, gaining in confidence and learning presentation and interview techniques. At the end of the programme Craig Clews Assistant General Manager at Crealy Park came to the REEP presentation day and was really impressed by Amy. Craig gave Amy his business card so that she could email him and reapply for the job. This culminated in her achieving her goal.

Craig Clews, Assistant General Manager at Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the REEP presentation day and I’m delighted that Amy got in contact with me.  We’re thrilled that she’ll be joining the Crealy Crew. We’re always on the search for new talent, especially those with a ‘Can Do’ attitude and Amy showed just that.  We are fortunate to be able to offer flexible working in a fun environment  at Crealy. New members of the team will join us for our biggest and best year to date.”

Sandra, Amy’s volunteer mentor is particularly delighted that Amy’s determination and goal setting has reaped such positive rewards. Sandra said “Amy was devastated when she was initially unsuccessful at her first interview at Crealy, this shows how empowering this 10 day programme is and how her renewed confidence and skills have resulted in such a positive outcome for Amy”. Sandra will continue to be in contact with Amy as she settles in to her new role at Crealy Park. But the last word, for now, should be from Amy “I’m really excited to have been given this opportunity. Crealy looks like such an exciting place to work and I look forward to being part of the Crealy Crew and embarking on this new adventure.”

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REEP – Outcomes Touch Hearts and Motivate Partners to Do More

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REEP Logo

Nine young people had a chance to shine and the deserved opportunity to get on track. Together with their mentors they are making the transition to work and/or training. But our initial summary evaluation reveals the power of Rugby Empowering Employment Programme (REEP) to motivate and matter extends well beyond the young people themselves!

  • For partner organisations who work with those, not in education, employment or training (NEETs) REEP was motivational. Nine young people started the intensive first phase of REEP Phase and not only completed the initial programme but grew as a result of it. For those partners working in the field the tangible outcomes have already touched hearts and motivated them to do more.
  • Partner organisations worked in partnership throughout planning and delivery, and continue to do so. These relationships were fundamental to REEP but have benefits beyond it. ‘We’ understand each other better, our strengths, constraints, offering and our willingness to make a positive difference.
  • REEP Mentors trained through the project are already helping to facilitate the young people in their transition to work or training. The substantial personal and project investment in the REEP Mentors is already making a positive difference and will continue to benefit society in the longer term
  • REEP has an impact at a Strategic level complementing a number of current strategic plans, helping to deliver some of their aims and objectives and to contribute to targets.
  • REEP partners are driven by the moral, ethical and economical imperative to act. They consider the cost of not investing in these Young People, and as the Chief Executive of Exeter City Council said at the celebration event “Every individual matters”.
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“Every Individual Matters” Karime Hassan

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REEP mentees and mentors celebrate with Karime Hassan
Young People and Mentors celebrate with Karime Hassan after receiving their certificates

Nine unemployed 17-22 year olds have completed the two-week Rugby Empowering Employment Programme (REEP) set up to inspire and boost the prospects of 16-24 year olds struggling to find work. The trainers used performance coaching techniques to build self-esteem, self-confidence, motivation, communication and presentation skills, along with team work, and setting and achieving action plans and goals.

Sandra Sampson, Director of Motiv-8sw who have been running the programme, said: “The turnaround in just two weeks has already shown how you can make a positive difference, building the confidence and motivation of young people who might have got stuck in a rut or experienced difficulties in the past. From being shy, unsure or not wanting to engage through to standing up and presenting to a room of business leaders, is fantastic.

Karime Hassan, Exeter City Council Chief Executive and Growth Director, was at the celebration event held at St Loyes Foundation in Exeter, on Friday 13th February. Karime said: “Well done to everyone who has completed the course. This is an important project and an example of how we can use the Rugby World Cup to inspire and do great things. Every individual matters and it’s wonderful to see the confidence and skills amongst the young people, and their desire to take the next positive step in their lives.” Representatives from local organisations and potential employers were also at the event.

Charlie Houlden, 22, from Cowick, said: “The course leaders have been great. They know how to motivate and really got everyone to open up. I want to get into IT and have managed to get an interview lined up. The course has been good for me already.”

Jemima Marshall, 19, from Exeter, said: “The course has been really amazing and beneficial to me. I have been unemployed for four months, and was disillusioned with my career and life, and felt pretty low. I want to go to university and study midwifery and now I know what I need to do, including taking some short courses in science before I apply. I’ve got to know everyone on the course and it’s been amazing to watch people change and their confidence grow.”

Each young person who has completed the programme, has been paired with a mentor to support them as they progress, by seeking job or training opportunities in the coming months.

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Meet the REEP Mentors

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REEP mentors meet for training

Volunteer mentors have participated in three really inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable training sessions at Exeter Saracens Rugby Club. Sandra Sampson of Motiv8-SW said that the mentors “have really put 100% into this and are very excited about meeting their mentees in February”. Volunteer mentors have been carefully matched with their partner mentees and will be at least in weekly contact with them. The role of each mentor will be to support one young person through the transition from the REEP two week intensive programme to employment, education or training over the coming months.

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REEP Teamwork in Action

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Participants engaged in teamwork exercise

During week one practical activities, similar to those used for building teams in business training, and exercises which help individuals discover what they want to do with their lives are empowering young people on the REEP pilot to turn their thinking into action. Week one was an intensive time which stretched participants within a positive and encouraging environment. Already, confidence is improving and planning an achievable way forward is well underway. Specially trained REEP Mentors visited the programme mid week to meet the young people to whom they had been partnered. Meanwhile, the Motiv8-SW team are gathering and collating information about the type of work or training participants would like to do. On Friday 13th February participants will make presentations to potential employers as well as celebrating their completion of this phase of the programme.

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Launching REEP

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Cath White, Exeter City Council, and Mark Shepherd, Exeter and Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board
Photo foreground: (L) Cath White, Exeter City Council, and (R) Mark Shepherd, Exeter and Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board

Young people struggling to find work have the opportunity to boost their job prospects thanks to a Rugby World Cup 2015 inspired project set up by the Exeter and the Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board together with Exeter City Council.

Launched at Sandy Park on Tuesday 16th December 2014 with Exeter Chiefs’ stars including Luke Cowan Dickie and Sam Hill, the pilot programme uses sporting values: preparation, commitment, hard work, skill and collaboration, to inspire 16–24 year olds giving them new life skills and confidence to help them progress into the work place, an apprenticeship or further training.

The programme starts with a full-time two week intensive programme followed by weekly support from specially trained volunteer mentors over several months through their transition to employment, education or training. Those who successfully reach their goals will be rewarded with tickets to a Rugby World Cup 2015 match at Sandy Park for themselves and their mentor.

Cllr Rosie Denham, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: “we’re focusing on supporting young people who have struggled to take that first step on their career ladder, building their confidence, skills and business know how. The pilot project is part of our work to make sure young people see the benefits from Exeter being a Host City for next year’s Rugby World Cup.”

Working with Motiv-8sw, Job Centre Plus, Active Devon, Exeter Chiefs, Exeter City Football Club, Parkwood Leisure, Careers South West, Exeter Saracens and St Loye’s Foundation, the City Council and Exeter and Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board are working with young people aged 16-24 who are currently out of work or in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance.

Devon-based leadership and team development experts Sampson Hall have led similar initiatives in other parts of the UK and will be running the programme in partnership with Motiv-8sw.

Phil Sampson, Director of Motiv-8sw, said: “This programme has been extremely successful in helping young people discover what they want to do with their life and it empowers them to actually turn their thinking into action. It’s proven to get results which is why we’re excited to be linking with Exeter City Council and the other partners to make a positive difference to the lives of young people.”

Mark Shepherd, Chair for the Exeter and the Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board, said: “Improving the skills and employment opportunities of all our young people in and around Exeter is a priority for the Employment and Skills Board. This project is an exciting opportunity for the young people involved and for the partners who have been working together to make it possible.”