The Fight for Peace Alliance is embarking on a new programme aimed at supporting organisations to run programmes that help young people access work.
Pathways to Work will see Fight for Peace train and support ten Fight for Peace Alliance organisations to develop new work-focused programmes that they will deliver over a two year period.
“The aim is for us to train organisations so that they can support young people into work,” explains Fight for Peace Alliance Programme Manager, Carolina Velasquez. “We see these programmes as vital in supporting young people to develop their work related skills, and build mental resilience.”
Specifically, the programmes delivered by Alliance organisations will support young people who have been excluded from the formal education system and/or need internship or employment opportunities, and/or are dealing with mental health challenges.
“The aim is for us to train organisations so that they can support young people into work. We see these programmes as vital in supporting young people to develop their work related skills, and build mental resilience.”
Carolina Velasquez, Fight for Peace Alliance Programme Manager
Organisations that are successful in applying to be part of Pathways to Work will receive training from Fight for Peace in how to develop work-related projects for young people, as well as support and resources to design and implement these projects.
They will also benefit from being part of a community of organisations across the UK that are developing similar projects. Composed of face to face and online learning, this will be the first blended training that Fight for Peace has delivered to date.
“Pathways to Work follows on from the education-focused Creating Pathways programme that ran in 2020 and 2021,” explains Carolina. “What we learned through that latter programme is that many young people are particularly interested in accessing resources, opportunities and gaining skills to progress into further employment or independent work. And we have brought those learnings to this new programme.”
“We anticipate that participating organisations will come up with a range of approaches to supporting their young people, based on their needs. These may include vocational qualifications, mentoring, personal development, local connections with potential employers, and facilitating traineeships and apprenticeships. We’re eager to see the approaches develop and to witness the impact over the next two years,” added Carolina.
“We anticipate that participating organisations will come up with a range of approaches to supporting their young people, based on their needs.”
Carolina Velasquez
Pathways to Work launches in November with successful applicant organisations selected in December and self-directed and face to face training (at the Fight for Peace London Academy) will take place from January to March 2023. Organisations wishing to participate must be UK based, be a Fight for Peace Alliance member, and be a not-for-profit incorporated entity using boxing and martial arts as a tool for development.
They must also have proven capacity for formal and informal outreach and engagement, be able to demonstrate demand for the programme in their local area, be able to secure referrals into the programme, and have experience in one or more of the three following areas: personal development, mentoring, and/or education.
For more information on Pathways to Work and to apply to be a part of it please contact Carolina at carolina@lutapelapaz.org. Pathways to Work is supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.