About the service

Nacro Dudley Kickstart Life programme helps offenders and ex-offenders to move towards finding work. The service is designed to help people find and keep work, by enabling them to access the education, skills, qualifications and support they need. We provide:

• training in basic skills and interpersonal skills, to develop confidence and increase employability
• job-search programmes
• specialist information, advice and guidance for people in prison and other offenders, and for those working with them
• information and support for employers

What will I get out of it?

This programme aims to:

• support engagement and progression pathways for 16, 17 and 18 year olds who are not currently in employment or undertaking an education or training option.
• improve the employability, personal and basic skills of young people that will lead to sustainable engagement and learning.
• increase the overall levels of participation post-16 by ensuring young people take up their entitlement to education and training.
• improve the levels of retention among 17 year olds who would normally be at risk of dropping out following initial engagement.
• provide additional, individualised, first-rung opportunities for young people to ensure a ‘September Guarantee’ for post-16 places.

Service information

Type of service: Education and employment advice

Participants must be between: 16 and 18

• Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
• Young offenders.
• Young people at risk of being influenced into non-participation/offender behaviour/drug and substance abuse through gang culture.
• Drug and alcohol users (including other health related issues).
• Teenage parents (or teenage parents to be).
• Young carers.
• Those leaving care.
• Those who have been previously excluded from school pre-16.
• Those who drop out of education, employment and training and consequently rejoin the NEET register.
• Under represented groups, when compared to the demographics in their geographical area.

When can I apply?

throughout the year

How long will it last?

20-30 weeks

Application details

How do I apply?

Connexions determine the eligibility of the young people entering the programme; including whether a young person is considered to be hardest-to-help or vocationally focused.

Each learner will receive full initial/diagnostic assessments, using recognised assessment tool(s), if qualified the Common Assessment Framework should be applied. Referral documentation from Connexions identifying if the learner is hardest-to-help or vocationally focused (referral form and APIR)

Dudley Connexions Centre
10 Wolverhampton Street
Dudley
DY1 1DA
Tel: 01384 242414

Stourbridge Connexions Centre
82 High Street
Stourbridge
DY8 1ED
Tel: 01384 397281

Phone us on: 01384 276020

Email us using the referral enquiry form

Service location

Contact details

Email contact form