Doncaster Rovers Community Foundation is celebrating getting 12 former job seekers into employment in the town.
The foundation is working towards the employment/work ready agenda and has helped more than 150 16-24 year olds become work ready.
Liam Scully, chief executive of Doncaster Rovers Community Foundation said: “The foundation works closely with job centre plus, employment agencies, schools and colleges to reduce unemployment in the area and develop a work ready population.
“Our results show that the programmes are working with 12 former job seekers or NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) gaining employment following attendance on our courses.
“Youth unemployment is a national problem and we are working with our local population to try and buck that trend.”
Two of the ex-learners from Doncaster Rovers Education Foundation who have successfully gained employment at Kingfisher Primary School, Wheatley are Linzi Dunderdale and Glenn Parkin.
The successful graduates of the Doncaster Rovers Level 2 Coaching Academy course were up-skilled and earned new qualifications and real work experience.
“Linzi and Glenn arrived on the course as learners who were classified as NEET and were hoping to gain some work experience, qualifications and ultimately a return to work following a period of unemployment. While on programme Linzi and Glenn worked through a number of Level 1 and 2 qualifications in sport and Functional Skills English and maths.
“During the programme Kingfisher Primary School offered learners the chance to gain work experience in school – with the possibility of employment at the end. Linzi and Glenn expressed their interest and in their second week they were both selected for work experience Monday to Friday at Kingfisher. Linzi and Glenn quickly become well respected and liked at the school and were given a glowing reference by the Head teacher – Nathan Atkinson,” added Liam.
As a result of their good work and feedback the duo were invited back for further work experience and for the remainder of the course they worked voluntary around their academic timetable.
Following successful completion of the 13 week course, Linzi and Glenn continued with voluntary work at the school and were offered the chance to interview for a post of Teaching Assistant. They were both successful and were offered the chance to take up the post in the new school year.
“Success stories like this show how hard work and volunteering in the current climate can lead to finding employment. Glenn and Linzi commented that, as a result of the programme, they have seen improvements in confidence, gained new skills and also enjoyed themselves. They recommended anyone interested in the course to enrol right away,” said Liam.
Doncaster Rovers Education Foundation have been running the 13 week programmes since August 2012 with each of the four courses having 20 percent of learners going on to gain employment shortly after or during the course.
To find out more or enrol on a course visit www.drfc-education.co.uk