HELP sponsor a school to ensure youngsters are more employable when they leave.
That’s the message from financial education charity Young Enterprise which delivers employability programmes across the South West.
The £1,400 Company Programme is made available to mainstream schools nationally for £800, thanks to part funding from HSBC. However, in today’s increasingly uncertain economic climate many schools are now struggling to find the funds to participate.
The YE Plymouth, West Devon and Cornwall Boards are therefore seeking businesses willing to help sponsor a school.
In line with Government recommendations, the YE Company Programme supports the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Careers guidance and helps the students gain sought after employability skills. As part of the scheme, students from Year 9 -13 can set up and run their own student company. Schools can embed this programme as part of their existing Business and Enterprise GCSE and A level programmes; OCR Cambridge Nationals Enterprise and Marketing Certificate programmes, citizenship classes or as an extra-curricular activity. Step-by-step guidance is provided to students online, via support from local boards and volunteer business advisers, who are DBS checked and have completed safeguarding training.
Sponsorship can also support the presentation of a trophy which is presented to the winners of various categories in the Company Programme at local and county level. In return, YE will include sponsors in any publicity and promotional material and school groups can make a presentation to supportive businesses on the benefits of the programme.
YE is positioning itself as the leading financial literacy, enterprise and entrepreneurship charity for young people in the UK. Every year YE works with over 250,000 young people, supports over 9,000 teachers in both enterprise and financial education, with the help of more than 7,000 volunteers and 3,500 businesses. Since we were established, over 4 million young people have taken part in Young Enterprise programmes in the UK. Research I conducted last year showed 100 per cent of students that participated in the Company Programme felt they had developed useful employability skills as a result of participating.
For further details please contact Stephanie Anderson, Cornwall, Plymouth and West Devon Area Manager, at: [email protected]
