Background
The Kickstarter Scheme was introduced by Government to provide funding to create jobs for 16-24 year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
Sheffield HCP decided to apply for the Scheme understanding that worthwhile employment is a significant contributing factor to health, and saw this as an opportunity to support young people into a career in health & care, improving the young person’s life chances at the same time – thus benefitting both parties.
The process
Sheffield HCP contacted the relevant workforce leads across the city and brought them together to discuss an application for the Scheme, this included understanding how the Scheme would work logistically for the employer and young person. Once all information on the Scheme had been reviewed, all partners decided to move forward with an application.
There was then a short time-period to begin the application process before the Government deadline, links were set up with Sheffield College who acted as the Sheffield HCP ‘Gateway’ and helped to navigate this process of application.
Sheffield HCP was successful in gaining funding for six young people ‘Kickstarters’ to begin a six-month placement across our partners. Partners then thought carefully about the roles they could offer a Kickstarter and set about drafting Job Descriptions and putting supervision in place. These were then reviewed by the Government Department for Work & Pensions, once approved, adverts were published, and the recruitment process began.
Six Kickstarters were recruited, and they all started their 6-month placement at different times across our partners in the city, receiving clear objectives and plenty of support along the way. Our partners really went the extra mile to ensure the Kickstarters received a rich experience so that they were in the best place to make a decision as to whether this was an opportunity they wanted to pursue.
Achievements
The view of the Sheffield HCP was it would be a good approach to treat the six Kickstarters across the partnership as a single cohort. The seen advantage of this would be giving the Kickstarters a ready-made support system and a wider range of development could be offered to them if operating as a single unity rather than organisation by organisation. Kickstarters came together for the induction and to learn about applying for roles, interview techniques and about the different roles and services available across the city. The approach worked very well and it would definitely be something we would do again if the Government reintroduced the initiative.
Testimonials
- All partners involved are keen to participate again if the Kickstart Scheme was relaunched by the Government.
- Six Kickstarters were recruited in total and two went on to secure employment in the city after their placement.
- Two further Kickstarters were keen to take up an opportunity but the time was not right for them – hopefully we will see them again soon.
