Work Experience

During all levels of work experience each young person is given graduated exposure to responsibility and is supported to improve their general employability skills in communication, teamwork, positive attitude, reliability, work place norms and basic vocational skills.

The Give and Take Scheme provides a variety of supported work experiences for young people, whether short taster days, longer individual training placements or group-based programmes.

Each work experience is individually tailored to address specific needs, and skills are learnt in such a way that the young people grow in confidence and self esteem. Work place mentors or buddies are selected to ensure environments are supportive and project workers provide regular support.

‘Work prep’ is a group-based programme for young people who do not yet know what areas of work they want to explore, have little or no understanding of the working world and need more support before attempting an individual placement experience. During ‘work prep’ the young people and staff complete a series of one-day hands-on community projects or attend a workplace tour.

The ‘work ready’ approach focuses on the individual young person, exploring career options that interest them. Project workers facilitate a range of work taster experiences for the young person, and accompany the young person working alongside them. This experience is then reviewed by the young person, who discusses what they liked and did not like about the experience, with the project worker.

When a young person has successfully completed at least two job taster experiences they are then encouraged to take on a longer work placement, known as ‘work well’. Initially the placements are for a two to four week trial period. During this time the project worker will stay in close contact with the employer and the young person, reviewing how the placement is going and establishing if there might be opportunities to extend the placement further.

Include Youth’s Employability Team create, develop and maintain strategic relationships with employers across all sectors in Northern Ireland.

Through large scale corporate social responsibility initiatives or a more simple commitment to helping local communities, a wide range of employers of all sizes support the Give and Take Scheme by:

• Offering voluntary work experience to our motivated young people supported by professional Give and Take staff
• Availing of Include Youth’s accredited ‘Mentoring Matters’ or ‘Make it Work’ mentoring training
• Mentoring young people
• Offering access to unused places on their relevant training courses
• Organising tours of the workplace
• Allowing their employees time out to help with mock interviews, essential skills classes or careers talks for young people