Prince's Trust

A personal development programme for young people aged 16-25 years. The programme lasts for 12 weeks and includes a 1 week residential (usually on Dartmoor). The team members develop their personal and soft skills, particularly self-confidence, communications, initiative, motivation and team-working.

They usually achieve qualifications including – the City and Guilds Profile of Achievement, First Aid Certificate, and Key Skills. They also receives certificate of achievement from the Prince’s Trust and Torridge Training.

Care Leavers

Drive to Independence 

The project objectives are to identify and assist care leavers from seventeen years of age into independent living and enhance their employment prospects and retainment. We have identified that care leavers find it difficult to pass driving their driving test particularly the theory element. This is due largely to the lack of support they receive from a stable and supportive home environment. Research has identify that 11% children in care gain 5 good GCSEs compared to 56% of their peers. This figure is likely to be mirrored in other areas including driving theory as many care leavers have problems with their basic literacy and numeracy skills, which in turn makes revising and studying the theory element extremely problematic.

This is project is designed to identify if an intervention can increase the number of successful theory passes. The project will employ a mentor to help care leavers structure a revision plan and increase their motivation and assist in the costs. The project expects the care leavers to make a contribution to the overalls cost, we see this as essential motivating facture to ensure participants complete the project and gain a full driving licence and do not leave the project because they are finding the theory difficult. An additional element of the project is to make participants aware of the cost implications involved in buying and running a car, this will include working out a budget plan to identify all the costs involved for one year.