YOUTH unemployment has fallen by 60 per cent in one of Warrington’s most deprived areas – thanks to a partnership between the borough council and social housing provider Golden Gates Housing Trust.
Six months ago, the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETS) was significantly above the average in Bewsey and Whitecross.
In August last year there were 63 NEETS in the area but now there are just 25.
In addition, the number of young people the council has lost contact with as fallen from eight per cent to one per cent.
Last May, a working group was set up by the council and partner organisations to tackle the issue.
Penketh High School got involved with a peer monitoring project and Golden Gates Housing created a number of initiatives to engage with young people and develop their skills to be ‘work ready’.
This included a two week employability skills and motivational sport related programme with Wolves Foundation called ‘Off the Bench’, which was supported by the council’s careers for young people service. 
Young people who signed up were guaranteed interviews with local employers, who were offered a wage subsidy scheme to provide opportunities. So far seven young people have been supported into employment and one of them is Aron Smith.
Aron, 19, moved to Warrington in May last year and started to claim Job Seekers Allowance while looking for work.
Golden Gates Housing signed him up for the two week course in which he was shown motivation, employment and team work skills.
Later he was offered an interview for a short term position with GGHT which he was successful in securing.
Aron said: “I was surprised when staff from Golden Gates Housing knocked on my door offering young people support to get a job. To be honest it was the offer of being paid expenses that initially persuaded me to join the course at the Warrington Wolves but in the end I was really glad I did.”
Cllr Hitesh Patel, the borough council’s lead member for children and young people’s services, said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working and the figures are phenomenal. This kind of joined up working helps to identify the most appropriate route forward for our most vulnerable young people and is key to helping them find training and employment opportunities.”
Golden Gates Housing chairman Roy Smith said: “It is great to see such positive outcomes from the work that our employment team and partners have put in to support young people in Bewsey and Dallam. As an organisation we recognised the positive impact that gaining new skills and work experience can have on people and look forward to continuing to work together to help more young people.”
For more information about the careers for young people service visit www.warrington.gov.uk/careersforyoungpeople
Picture: Aron Smith busy at work with Golden Gates Housing.
Youth unemployment slashed by 60 per cent
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
