Our projects

We are involved in a number of projects with partners to support people in the more disadvantaged communities to lift themselves out of the spiral of deprivation.

• Kent NOW (New Opportunities for Work) is a project led by the Supporting Independence Programme as part of our second Local Public Service Agreement. It aims to help 250 long-term Incapacity Benefit claimants into sustained work during the next two years (up to 2008).
  
  We are working with a wide range of partners to train individuals in job readiness, self-confidence, IT, basic skills and specialist job-related training, job search techniques, work experience placements and links with local employers.

• We plan to create 1,000 new apprenticeships as part of our Towards 2010 targets. We will host one quarter of them as part of the Kent Success Programme. There are more than 80 apprenticeships available to young people aged 16 to 25 and we will potentially be able to offer placements for more than 20 of the vocational skill areas.
  
  The Supporting Independence Programme and KEY Training Services will manage the placement of the apprentices across KCC. They will support the young people while they are completing qualification and into employment. The SIP team will also engage other public and private sector employers to help them expand the programme within their organisations.
• The Kent Community Programme will deliver an eight week intensive vocational, life skills and employability skills development programme to young people aged 16 to 18 years old.
  
  The programme will equip young people with the practical skills they need to carry out a wide range of community projects and local activities. These could include: schools maintenance, landscaping, painting and decorating, assistance with the revamping of empty homes, Clean Kent activities and pre-apprenticeship vocational schemes. The aim of the programme is to provide young people with the confidence and skills needed to go on to further education, apprenticeships and/or employment.
• Supporting Independence Programme Seminars are being held in each of the 12 districts in Kent. They are designed to bring together local organisations who deliver services in the more disadvantaged wards in their areas, offer the chance to network and draw together a list of priorities based on the needs of each locality. Each list of priorities will be adopted by local strategic partnerships. Contact us for dates in your local area.
• Charlton Athletic Football Club works with us to deliver their Summer Slam events across the county during the summer holidays. The events are free and open to all young people, giving them the chance to get involved with a Premiership football club for the day. The events are also a chance for local organisations to put on events for young people and their families in a safe, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We also work with the club on other community projects, as part of the Charlton Athletic Community Scheme (link opens in a new window).