The Skill Mill Newcastle

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Training and employment: giving new perspectives to young ex-offenders

Newcastle is a city characterised by post-industrial and recession-induced pockets of poverty and deprivation. The unemployment rate for 16-24 year olds is 20.5% – usually young white males alienated from mainstream education and employment. To address the disadvantages faced by young ex-offenders, Newcastle City Council’s Youth Offending Team decided to establish The Skill Mill, a partnership which includes the Newcastle City Council and different public, private and non-governmental actors. The target group are young ex-offenders: 16–18 year olds with low skills and poor educational outcomes, with several custodial sentences. The Skill Mill provides employment in waterway clearance and land management. Every participant completes a City and Guild course in Land Based Operations and all successful trainees are offered a ‘next step’ job with one of The Skill Mill’s partners. An evaluation by the University of Northumbria found that participation in The Skill Mill resulted in a significant reduction in the number and seriousness of offences committed.