Tributes paid to trailblazing employment project which transformed life for 389 in Barnsley

20th December 2018

Tributes have been paid to a regional employment programme which is ending after setting nearly 400 young Barnsley people on track to a better life.

Speaking after the 'No One Left Behind' conference, a celebration of Talent Match Sheffield City Region's achievements throughout the region, local charity Groundwork (South Yorkshire) was among those praising the scheme's successful work in the town. Since 2014 the Barnsley arm of the national project Talent Match, which works one-to-one with 18-24 year-olds who have been jobless for over a year, has helped over 389 of the town's most vulnerable young jobless, getting 133 into employment with 10 local businesses. Some 64 of them were in sustainable jobs six months later and the rest had taken up apprenticeships, voluntary work, work placements, full time education or part-time employment. Some, like 22-year-old Holland photographer Stuart Marsden, have even launched their own businesses. But as the close of 2018 approaches, so does Talent Match - funding from the Big Lottery Fund is to finish at the end of December. -Its closure is a very sad day. It is going to leave a hole for young people in this region who experience some of the biggest challenges in life, said Phil Hayes, Operations Director of Groundwork (South Yorkshire), who have delivered the Talent Match programme in the town. -We have seen the most significant impacts on young people. As an employer it has been amazing to witness their change. Via the project, Groundworks employed four young men, who had never worked before, with the help of the Government's Wage Fund. Its coaches successfully placed a further seven with other employers in Barnsley. Said Phil: -We filled in the qualification gaps - basic maths, IT skills, training to work with equipment and health and safety.  "Working manually outdoors has had a very positive effect on them, mind and body. -Sadly, finances meant we had to let two go after their Wage Fund ended. "But we didn't desert them. Our TM coaches kept their spirits high and helped them find other landscape maintenance jobs in Barnsley. -We can see the two who are still with us staying long-term. One has the potential to become a site supervisor. Over the last five years, Talent Match has turned life around for 2,353 of the Sheffield City Region's most vulnerable young jobless. Their barriers to work ranged from learning disabilities, mental health problems and homelessness to single parenthood. Some had spent years in care. As a result, 658 achieved sustained employment or work placements and 833 entered into education, 82.5 per cent of clients said they more confident and competent and 63 per cent of their families said their relationships with the YP had improved. These statistics earmarked Talent Match SCR, run by Sheffield Futures, as a top five performer in the trailblazing national scheme which launched with £106million of funding in 2014 to tackle youth unemployment in the areas of England hardest hit by the economic downturn. Clients were helped to grow their skills and confidence, and equipped for work with additional financial support for training courses and travel expenses to workwear and tools. In Barnsley  £25,116 was made available for these items, £65 per young person. Phil Hayes described these funds as -one of the most important things the project offered.' He said: -I called it 'barrier-busting money'; coaches could give it to get around whatever physical barrier their young people were facing and it made a huge difference. At the No One Left Behind conference, staged in December at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium and hosted by Tom Ingall of BBC Look North, stakeholders praised the results gained by the programme, young adults told how their lives had been turned around and coaches spoke of the rewards of the job. Scott Hignett head of funding at The Big Lottery Fund, praised the depths of the relationships coaches developed with their clients. -On average a young person with a chaotic and disrupted life is given 63 different forms of support. "To truly engage, young people need a trusted place and a trusted person. "Talent Match has taught us that and exceptional mentors have resulted in exceptional success. Talent Match also received praise from the SCR Local Enterprise Partnership. Krysia Wooffinden, Assistant Director for Skills, Employment and Education, said: -The theme -no one left behind is very important. "There is no reason why all our residents who want to work shouldn't be able to find work and progress their career, but many have complex barriers they need to overcome before they can do that. "We must dare to be different if we want to make change. -When Talent Match ends, there will be gaps that need to be filled. Legacy 6, a year-long scheme to help young people with mental health issues will now be launched, revealed Karen Challis, Head of Education and Employment services at Sheffield Futures, which ran Talent Match in the SCR. -Legacy 6 will give us the opportunity to focus on the young people with very significant life issues who need our support. "The Big Lottery will support this work for one more year, focusing on 80 young people who are furthest from the labour market. "We will use our experience from Talent Match to build on the fantastic work of the Coaches, and particularly to offer a wider range of support for those with mental health issues.