Nacro annual review

Education and employment young people‘Kids around here are not the wayothers see them – little hooligans.They are people with talent.’Andy takes the floor at a training session foryoung people, part of the Entry to Employmentproject in Peterborough. Usually he is one of thelearners, but this morning he has agreed to run afirst aid workshop himself. He begins by issuing anultimatum: ‘If you don’t want to be here, the door’sthere.’ Everyone stays seated, and listens as heexplains about vital organs and blood supply, andfields questions about gashes and electrocution.Then they don rubber masks and kneel down to givethe doll, Resuscitation Annie, the kiss of life.Afterwards, Andy delivers his verdict with a beam:‘They need a hell of a lot of practice.’Nacro believes that education and training providesthe basis for a fulfilling and productive life. That iswhy it runs education projects for young peoplewho truant or have been excluded from school, orare not engaged in training or employment. As wellas offering work-based learning, leading tonationally recognised qualifications from awardingbodies such as City and Guilds, Nacro also providestraining to build confidence and develop basic skills.When they first arrive at the project, young people donot usually have much motivation to learn. TrainerChris Jones therefore tries to create a differentenvironment to the one usually found in schools.‘They’re aged 16 to 18, so I try to take away thatteacher-pupil thing,’ he says. ‘I tell them, “I’m a blokewho’s been through life, had some problems, and Iwant to show you how to avoid the same pitfalls”.’From then on, the project aims to offer the sort ofeducation and training that will set them up for life.The breakfast club is a case in point. Before it wasestablished, most learners started the day with junkfood or nothing at all. Now, Nacro encourages them todrop in for tea, orange juice and toast before theirsessions begin. Along the way, they pick up tips ondiet, budgeting and food preparation. As part of theirtraining, they also redecorated the breakfast area. ‘I’mnot sure I’d paint my own kitchen Dulux Sexy Pink,’says Chris, ‘but it seems to work for them. They hadfun doing it and they learnt new things, like workingout how many square metres a pot of paint wouldcover. It was maths by stealth.’Some of these young people can be difficult to workwith because they have had bad experiences ofschool and life. Nacro tries to find out what liesbehind their aggression or lack of motivation. ‘Somehave problems with drink or drugs,’ says managerSam Feeney. ‘Others really struggle to expressthemselves, which is why they clobber people orwalk out. Or they have families who are indifferentto them. One young person who comes here islocked out of home from morning until 11 o’clock atnight, so he’s always tired and anxious. It’s notsurprising he finds it hard to learn.’10