Hailsham Works! Project Future Developments

A project run by the Tomorrow’s People charity and Hailsham Town Council, addressing long-term unemployment for young people in the town, continues to improve and will be further developed in coming months.

Members of staff representing Tomorrow’s People’s Hailsham Works! project provided an update on the group’s projects, activities and future achievement targets to town councillors at a meeting held on Wednesday 24^th February.

At the meeting, positive outcomes in terms of employment, training and work experience for young people was highlighted, as well as the creation of local jobs, apprenticeships and traineeships and long term support for graduates looking for work.

Hailsham Town Council initiated the Hailsham Works! project in August 2012, which was designed as a development of the already successful Heathfield Works! scheme and the first cohort in Hailsham was recruited for the programme in September 2013.

The Town Council has built £40,000 funding for Hailsham Works into the 2016-2017 budget profiling process and has agreed to fund a further four cohorts for the next year at £10,000 per cohort. Accommodation for the project in the 2 North Street building will be provided.

Deputy Town Mayor Councillor Amanda O’Rawe, who attended the meeting, said:

“The success of the Hailsham Works project to date is positive news and the Town Council is proud to offer financial support to boost the opportunities for the young people of our town.”

“Hailsham Works! has for the most part been successful since its launch in September 2013 and, of the 81 young people who started the programme, 66 have completed the 10-week programme or 81% of participants.”

Councillor O’Rawe added, “The average percentage of young people achieving a successful outcome — that of employment, training or return to education at the end of the programme — is around 71% at the moment.”

“Good results of course, but further developments will be made in the coming months to boost this percentage, including improved links with local businesses and other organisations, and the introduction of courses in customer service and manual handling to give more selling points for potential employers.”

Hailsham Works! Task Force Leader Jan Townsend commented: “We are delighted by the success of the Hailsham Works! scheme for which my colleagues and I have all worked so hard towards.”

“We hope in time to see Hailsham Works! become embedded in the local community as it progresses further, and become the go-to place for unemployed young people who require support. It would be brilliant to see the town and local communities supporting young people in a positive way when so much news about them is negative.”