Activity Agreements: Participants’ Research

Presented by Glenys Watt, Director

January 2014

“to explore participants’ views in order

to understand how best to reach young

people furthest from the labour market,

how best to support them and what

inputs most help them to progress to

employment, further learning and

training”

Methods

Online survey with stakeholders

234

Telephone interviews with Opportunities

for All Co-ordinators6

Focus groups with participants

114

Online survey with participants

426

Findings

• 98% Staff Supportive

• 96% Would recommend Activity Agreements to a friend

• 93% Improved job/college chances

• 92% Learned new skills

• 91% Feel more confident

What attracts young people to an Activity Agreement?

Acquire new skills/job

Support and advice on offer

Not in a job or learning

Try out new things

EMA

What keeps young people engaged?

Learn new skills

Support from Trusted

Professional

Trying new things

Seeing progress

Wanting to achieve

something

Support from the Trusted Professional

• Moral support

• Practical support“…if it wasn’t for her, I

wouldn’t be here……”

Why do some people decline an Activity Agreement?

• No pattern to it• Lack of motivation• Parents’ resistance• Pregnancy• Complete lack of self-confidence

Stakeholders’ views

• Stressed need for more progression

• Continued and increased capacity for tailored support

• Work with young people earlier, at school.

Recommendations• Getting young people involved:• Earlier stage• “Activities” at school for vulnerable young people• Further marketing and information• The role of partners

• Keeping them engaged:• Trusted Professional is core and should be further supported• EMA maintained• Mixture of activities• Work tasters/placements

Recommendations (ctd)

• Progression• Links between Activity Agreements and future potential destinations

• Systems• Keep records of why young people decline• Explore amount of hours / days available each week and increase where

appropriate