‘Hands On’off to a flying start
Following a successful pilot project, Local Aid has received 3 years’ funding from the Big Lottery Fund to roll out their innovative ‘Hands On’ project. Local Aid’s charity shops, the project encourages young people aged 14 -25 to build intergenerational skills through personal training.

‘Hands On’ aims to engage, raise awareness and train participants through the provision of retail experience and the opportunity to gain OCN (National Open College Network) credits in areas such as customer care, health and safety, communication skills and numeracy skills, amongst others. OCN accreditation up to Level 3 is offered and the aim is for all young people to achieve at least 2 qualifications. The required attendance is one day per week, for a six week placement.

Young people who have particularly benefited from this inspiring project include those socially excluded or at risk from social exclusion, those with challenging behaviour, those who are disengaged from formal educational patterns and those who have special or additional educational needs.

For more information download our Hands On Booklet (PDF - 68KB)

Success since September
The project launched in September 2008 and since then, over 50 young people have been engaged in real time retail work experience, recycling, community volunteering and gained OCN qualifications.

Groups of youngsters from Daniel James, Dylan Thomas, Cefn Hengoed, Swansea College, Olchfa and Step Ahead have been among the first to take part in this project based at our charity shops where our aim is to raise money for children and community special needs. The shops would not exist without our teams of dedicated and hard working volunteers, and it is to this end that our young teams have helped to ensure links are maintained within their local community.

The schools and colleges who have placed young people with us include: Bishop Gore Comp Cefn Hengoed Comp Daniel James Comp Dylan Thomas Comp EOTAS Project YG Gwyr Manselton PRU Olchfa Comp Pen y Bryn Special School Step Ahead PRU Swansea College Transition to Adulthood

Not only have young people contributed to the continuing success of the “Hands On” project, but they have been able to fully participate in the day to day running of a retail environment. The youngsters have taken an active role in retail assistance: stock control, re-cycling, organising and designing store fronts and internal layout, dealing with members of the public, receiving donations and of course selling donations. All of these skills will be useful to them should this wish to work in a retail environment after leaving school.

Hands up for Hands On
A total of 115 OCN Accreditations at Entry level and Level one have been achieved since the start of the project in September 08. Projects Manager Amanda Lervy said “this project is targeted at those young people who are finding school difficult and who are perhaps not achieving well at school; by raising confidence and attitudes it is hoped that we will be able to give young people an insight to the world of work and for many, a certificate that actually means something to them and future employers”.

Any organisations which cater for the needs of young people aged 15 to 25 who would like to get involved with ‘Hands On’ or know any groups or individualse who would benefit from this exciting new project, please email Terrie Cousins, our School Link worker, or call her on 07780 606946.

eBay profits are then ploughed back in to Local Aid projects. Young people can determine where the money is invested e.g. buying new toys or equipment for Buddies, funding horse riding session for disabled, activity days etc.

OCN accredited training in the use of internet and email is mapped to their ‘Hands On’ activities.

For more information download our Hands On Booklet (PDF - 68KB)