ACTIVATE

Help and support for young people through the transition from school into employment, further education and training.

You may have heard of the "NEET group" - Not in Education, Employment or Training". Well the Activate programme, run by Careers Scotland and partially funded by the European Social Fund is aimed at those young people who would benefit from additional support to develop employability skills. School staff and the Activate Adviser will identify people who could benefit. Membership of Activate is voluntary.

Activate focuses on developing employability skills and pupils work on personal development, career planning and career management. Pupils will also undertake a variety of enterprise activities possibly including team building days, college visits, employer visits and fundraising.

Mentoring is also a major aspect of Activate and members will meet on a one-to-one basis with their Activate Adviser during school and for one year after completing the programme. This will give each young person the opportunity to discuss their progress and get support with career planning.

On completion of the programme all group members have the opportunity to have a celebration event and receive a certificate in recognition of the skills they’ve developed.

More details:
What is it?
Employability skills programme aimed at up to 20 participants per school per year. Involves adviser delivering groupwork sessions and individual mentoring (normally as part of the school curriculum) followed by up to a year's support post - transition.
Who is it aimed at?
Aimed at potential leavers in S4 / S5, both winter and summer leavers. Clients are those most likely to face difficulties making a succesful transition into work, training or FE, therefore potential NEET group.
What are the benefits to customers?
Intensive coherent support from adviser and partner agencies. Post transition support. Building up key employability and soft skills. Much better prepared to make successful transitions from schools. Enjoyable and fun groupwork activities. Activate is running in 96 schools presently.