Young People in the Black Country Get on Track

A group of 16 to 25 year olds in the Black Country look forward to new opportunities as they complete a programme inspired by Dame Kelly Holmes.

The achievements of up to 25 young people from Walsall were celebrated on Monday as they attended an event in their honour.  The recent graduates of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust ‘Get on Track’ programme have engaged in a journey that has inspired them to be the best they can be.  To qualify for the programme the young people must not be in employment, education or training.

The Get on Track programme provides disadvantaged young people with the self-discipline, motivation and confidence they need to enhance their employability and to lead more active lives.  The programme has used former and current world class athletes to mentor the young people from Walsall, Willenhall and Darlaston.

Two of the successful participants in the programme have great stories to tell. 

Jacqui, age 22 from Walsall lost her job in December 2013, and slipped into depression as she hated relying on benefits and struggled to find a new job.  Jacqui was put forward for the ‘Get on Track’ programme by her local Job Centre Plus.  She was sceptical at first but gave it a go.  After learning new skills on the programme, Jacqui’s confidence blossomed and she is now volunteering at her local Youth Centre and is doing her NVQ in youth work.

Richard, age 22 from Walsall was made redundant from his job in telesales, and after sending out 30 job applications per week was starting to feel depressed.  He was unsure about attending the programme initially, but after talking to Tom Davis, one of the mentor athletes at his local Job Centre Plus, he soon changed his mind.  After starting the programme, Richard quickly grew in confidence and led on a project to organise a community fun day and raise money for a local charity.  He said "I feel like I have my passion back now, I feel invigorated. I don’t want to give up”. 

Richard now wants to develop a career in sports coaching and wants to become a mentor for participants on the next ‘Get on Track’ programme.

Dame Kelly Holmes, double Olympic champion and Chair of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust said:
"These young people in the Black Country have been on an incredible journey over the past few weeks, and the key focus now is for them to remain positive and keep up all their good work. This group can now take inspiration from their athlete mentors and see just what success a determined, positive attitude can bring. Success in sport can be linked to success in life; and this is something this group has learnt from the past weeks on my charity’s Get on Track programme.”

Simon Hall, Director of the Black Country BeActive Partnership, said:
"It is great seeing the impact that this programme is having in the Black Country.  The young people involved in the programme have been through tough times, and this programme is starting to help them get their lives back on track.  Using top international athletes as mentors is a great idea, and very inspirational for all involved.  We are very proud of all participants in the Black Country and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

- ENDS -

Note to editors:

Jacqui – 22 – from Walsall

Jacqui moved from Birmingham to Walsall to be nearer her mother. She did not know anyone else in the area and found it hard to make friends. She had a small flat and moved in her brother (who was homeless) and Auntie who was very ill. She took on a role as career for them both. She was very low and "cried each night”.

She found work with Amazon last Christmas but was very ill over the period and her contract was not renewed. She has been unemployed since 28th December 2013.

She has been very depressed since Christmas. She said "I hate claiming benefits, I hate living off someone else”.  She has applied for lots of jobs but either heard nothing or really struggled at interview because of her confidence. Jacqui has had to resort to pawning her goods to pay bills.
When she first heard of Get On Track, she was very sceptical. She heard it involved sports and being body conscious, was really not sure but her JCP advisor asked her to try the first day.

Jacqui struggled at first – lots of new people and she got a bit stressed. Very quickly she started to enjoy it. It was unlike any other programme she had been on before. Over the challenges on the first few days, her confidence begun to rise and she realised she had some valuable skills.

As the programme progressed, Jacqui blossomed. Her confidence grew and she developed new found leadership skills which saw her leading on activities – something she had never done before. She got the opportunity to learn new things, pick up skills and have experiences that she never would have.

Jacqui felt the athletes were amazing. They motivated and challenged her each day.
Jacqui has now started volunteering at the Youth Centre where the project was based and is doing her NVQ in youth work.

Richard – 22 Walsall

Richard was made redundant from his job in April in Telesales. Since then he has been sending out up to 30 applications a week but has not secured anything. He was really frustrated and feeling quite depressed.

He heard about Get On Track from the job centre – he originally said no because "he thought it would be just like the other schemes the job centre have sent him on before – boring at just being talked ‘at’ and had been told how to write a CV a hundred time”. He met Tom Davis and James Connolly at Bridal Court JCP and quickly changed his mind.

Richard was hesitant on the first day but he quickly realised this course was different. He enjoyed the activities. The mix of interesting sports and practical skills pitched the learning at the right level for him. He loved the support of the athletes and everyone else on the programme.

Richard quickly grew in confidence and led on a project to organise a community fun day and raise money for a local charity.  Richard felt it was great "not to be judged”. Other schemes he has been on have left him feeling like they thing he is stupid or had not skills. "I feel like I have my passion back now, I feel invigorated. I don’t want to give up now”.

Press release issued by: Joanne Taylor, Black Country Consortium Ltd, joanne_taylor@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk 07984 347837 / 01384 471139

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust
Through a range of personal development programmes run across the country, every one of our young people receives mentoring and support from a world-class athlete.  They have the opportunity to develop their confidence and self-esteem, and their life, work and social skills.

At the same time, athletes are supported in their transition from competitive sport, and are given the opportunity to find a new and rewarding career path.  There is no other organisation that provides long term support for athletes to utilise their exceptional experience and expertise to benefit others in the community.
For more information on the Get on Track Programme visit www.damekellyholmestrust.org/young-people/charity-programmes/get-on-track

Black Country BeActive Partnership
The Black Country BeActive Partnership is one of 46 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) in England working to provide opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity across the Black Country.   The team and its partners aim to work together for all in the Black Country through PE, Sport and Physical Activity to inspire a generation to be active.
For more details on the work of the Black Country BeActive Partnership please contact Simon Hall, Partnership Director on 01384 471136 or visit www.blackcountrybeactive.co.uk