Millwall Community Trust (MCT) have had a positive response with their Kickstart programme and are looking to recruit even more young people.
The Kickstart Scheme, introduced by the Government last year, was a response to the growing unemployment caused by Covid-19. MCT, in partnership with the EFL, has created over 20+ new 6-month job placements for young people currently on Universal Credit, and/or at risk of long-term unemployment.
So far, MCT has filled in various Kickstart positions in media, and coaching. Since the positive reviews from current kickstart members, MCT has been attending different events around Peckham and Southwark to speak about the opportunity and provide more roles to young people in the local community. The events allow young people to hear more about the Kickstart programme and what it is like with MCT. The in-depth presentation breaks down each job role and the skills and experiences they can gain within the Trust.
A programme overview is also told from the perspective of current MCT Kickstart members.
Fleuranelle Duwhaz, the Kickstart Media Officer at MCT, said: “Being at Millwall Community Trust has been great. I have learned so much about Media and PR since starting. The opportunities to build on my skills have been continuous.
“I like speaking at the career events and telling my story because the Kickstart programme is pretty new, and people who are considering joining may want to know from people who are already on it. My first-hand experience allows them to ask me any questions they may have. It also gives them a chance to find out what I've been able to achieve within MCT.”
The Kickstart event at Peckham Jobcentre Plus (JCP) was a success, with MCT receiving applicants for their different available roles.
Kieran Dobson, an Employer Adviser at Peckham JCP, said: “Working collaboratively with Millwall Community Trust is fantastic. Communication is clear and concise, and the effort put in is phenomenal.
“Working alongside John, Sean, and rest of the senior leadership team is a pleasure, and knowing that any young person who is successful in going into a Kickstart placement with Millwall will be looked after and encouraged to succeed is so rewarding in itself.
“Seeing how happy Fleuranelle is within her role of Media Officer at Millwall, and hearing her experience through the process and now within the role is such an achievement and why I love the role in supporting members of the public on their journey to employment.
“The professional working relationship with Millwall and the Jobcentre is going from strength to strength, and it is very exciting to see what happens moving forward as the world returns bit by bit closer to the normality before the pandemic.”
John Scarborough Education & Employability Manager said “This programme is what the trust is all about providing opportunities to young people in the community to maximise their potential and support aspirations. All Managers have been extremely committed to making this work as we all see the benefits this placement provide both to kickstart employee but also the positive impact their work at the trust has directly or indirectly on the local community and the new ideas and energy that each kickstart employee brings”
To read more about how MCT are helping kickstart careers click here: https://www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/news/313
