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Become a CAT.ZERO business parter
Summary:
Can your company help CAT.ZERO change lives?
Description:
The Wilberforce Youth Development programme is the first in a portfolio of projects being developed to help young people through sailing related experiences. The programme was inspired by the impact of sailing on ten young people from the city: They participated in a pilot project by the ONE HULL Local Strategic Partnership which created a tag team to carry the Wilberforce Petition on each leg of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race. All the participants experienced positive outcomes and have made good progress towards employment, education or training. The aim was to create a comprehensive programme that could help significantly more young people with similar challenges. As a result a team of experienced individuals who had worked with the Tag Team project came together to create an organisation that could develop and run such an ambitious scheme.
A structured three month programme of educational personal development uses sailing as a focal point and incorporates the ultimate challenge of crewing an ocean going yacht on a two week sailing expedition. Learning programmes are motivational and are designed to bring about attitudinal change. On their return from sea the young people will experience work placements and preparation for moving into education, employment or training in possession of a personal CV and employer’s reference. Mentoring support continues for up to a year after the successful completion of the course. The first six weeks offers an extensive educational programme which includes certificated courses based around the marine industry and also incorporates experiential learning packages in a number of areas, including woodwork, metalwork, electronics and plumbing, plus Basic Food Hygiene and qualifications ranging from First Aid to Diesel Maintenance. In addition there are a wide range of activities related to healthy living, fitness and well being. This enables participants to receive nationally recognised qualifications.
The project is being supported by Hull’s local strategic partnership, ONE HULL, through an allocation from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (2009-2011). In addition, resources are being provided by the Hull NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust. The programme plans to recruit 150 young people to participate each year, aiming to assist a minimum of 100 young people to move into education, employment or training. The programme has been developed and delivered by CAT.ZERO - a new not-for-profit organisation which is in the process of registering charitable status and is currently hosted by the Hull & East Yorkshire Community Foundation. CAT.ZERO is managed by a highly qualified staff team, experienced in the successful delivery of projects for young people.
Partnership and Volunteering Opportunities:
CAT.ZERO is engaging with partners from the private and public sectors who can offer work placements and volunteers to help with recruitment, the introductory event, the delivery programme (including sailing) and mentoring. This is a key element of the programme which enables participants to meet people from an array of organisations, agencies and backgrounds.
We need help from local organisations who are willing to become partners by providing us with one or more of the following to support our 12 week youth development programmes which will be running continuously through to 2011:
- Volunteers who can support programme delivery (including sailing)
- Mentors to help guide young people through recruitment, training and the world of work
- Provide site visits, facilities or work placements
- Provide any helpful products or services in kind
- Financial assistance (optional)
In return we will provide high profile exposure to highlight your valuable contribution:
- Partner logo on training vessel
- Partner logo on official website with link to your web site
- Partner logo on official literature and documents as appropriate
- Profiled to media in press releases
- Opportunity to promote within your own organisation and specialist media
- Priority invitations to attend special events
- Option to host events
Packages can be tailored to suit your organisation’s individual circumstances, relevance, available time and resources.
Organisation:
This project is aimed at young people from Hull aged 17-19 who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). They are usually from disadvantaged backgrounds and many have been in care, or had parenting issues and other challenging domestic circumstances. They may well have acted as carers, had a poor school attendance or suffered from bullying. Some may have learning difficulties. Research also identifies that young people categorised as NEET are also more likely to be involved in criminal activity or are victims of crime, have risky lifestyles around drug and alcohol issues, are more likely to be a teenage parent and suffer poor health. Many have low self-esteem.
For more information contact CAT.ZERO – Hull & East Yorkshire Community Foundation, Suffolk Chambers, Scale Lane, Hull HU1 1LA.
Contact name: Sandra Strachan
Telephone: 01482 481877
Email: info@catzero.org
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