Youth Enterprise & Employability Academy celebrates after receiving almost £10,000 from national Lottery to help local young people gain skills they need for future.

A Small Local Charity, Youth Enterprise & Employability Academy, is today celebrating after being awarded almost £10,000 in National Lottery Funding, this comes after Academy surveyed firms across Nottinghamshire and found 84% thought school leavers were not ready for employment.

In fact of the companies surveyed three-quarters put the situation down to a lack of work experience, but then when we asked them do they offer work experience over half of them said they do not offer it, because of the cost and time needed and lack of information about what is involved which is putting them offering work-experience.

In addition, to work experience nine out of ten companies surveyed said young people did not have even basic skills such as communication or team work, whilst 73% of young people believe they are good at communicating and 55% believe they are good at working in a team.

That is why the Youth Enterprise & Employability Academy is developing its employability programs that proactively engage with young people in order to help them to identify the skills needed for the world of work

The charity, based in Worksop in North Nottinghamshire, will use the cash to run activities for young people and aid with its development.

Youth Enterprise & Employability Academy has been running since 2015, becoming a charity in 2019 and is staffed by volunteers.
It was founded by Kurtis-Jay Castle, Charlotte Baines and Jodie Streets after research carried out by the now charity, there was clear indications that young people from across Nottinghamshire would benefit from the Employability program.

The Charity will use these funds for its employability program which helps youth from across county to make friends, but more importantly learning new skills and having fun. While enjoyable, they are also gaining greater confidence, problem solving and important collaboration skills.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see the extending and developing the Employ-ability Program.

At the same time, the charity will continue to pays attention to issues and concerns young people have and employers, in order to provide the best possible support for them.

Kurtis-Jay Castle, Founder & Chair of Youth Enterprise & Employability Academy says: “We’re ecstatic that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised the academy in this way. So, would like to take this opportunity thank everyone who plays the lottery, we will be able to press on with the development of our employ-ability program and broaden the range of opportunities available to young people.

Kurtis-Jay than adds, “it’s only thanks to the hard work and commitment made by Jodie Streets and the rest of the team that we are here today, however sadly Miss Street is no longer with us, therefore our deepest condolences once again go out to her family.”

Jade Allan, Trustee of Youth Enterprise & Employability Academy says: “It is incredible that we’ve recognized this way, however we have to continue to raise funds and building partnerships with organisations across the county to make a difference”