Celebrating Success and Looking to the Future for 'New Skills, New Lives'

On the 3rd March 'New Skills, New Lives' (invited stakeholders to Oakwood House, Maidstone, to celebrate the first year of the enterprise. The event reflected on the successes and achievements gained during the first year and gave guests an insight into the strategic direction for the upcoming year. At the same time, the Kent Youth Offending Service took the opportunity to launch 'New Skills, New Lives' for young people.

The aim of the 'New Skills, New Lives' partnership, led by West Kent College’s Kent Probation and the Prison Service, is to give offenders the opportunity to increase their skills and qualification levels by engaging with local FE colleges and providers with a view to increasing employability and employment opportunities and therefore reducing reoffending. This is achieved by increasing access to FE funded literacy, numeracy and vocational skills delivered discreetly at probation sites, on the mobile training unit and on-site with employers.

Guest speakers for the event included Bill Fearon, West Kent College Principal, who opened the evening, Mike Hill, Kent County Council Cabinet Member, Amanda Honey, Managing Director for Communities Kent County Council, Rob Verity, Director of Interventions, Community and Partnerships Kent Probation, and Glan Hopkin, Head of Service Kent Youth Offending Service. All speakers emphasised the importance of 'New Skills, New Lives' and how the initiative contributes to achieving their organisational goals.

Steve Hyland, 'New Skills, New Lives' Project Manager, commented: “What makes this project unique in offender learning and skills is the strength of the partnership – each of our partners are thoroughly committed to the success of the project at both strategic and operational levels, meaning we’re able to provide a well-rounded service to our learners which has been designed from the ground up to meet their needs”.

During its first year of operation 'New Skills, New Lives' has offered excellent value for money, both in terms of delivery and in terms of developing partnerships. In the last year 'New Skills, New Lives' has seen over 200 Skills for Life qualifications and over 50 employment outcomes, some of those who joined the scheme have now gone on to re-train as tutors and are using their own experiences to encourage others to turn their lives around. The team and stakeholders are now eagerly awaiting the next year of operation and the development of 'New Skills, New Lives' for young people.