Water success

27/10/2008

Member of the European Parliament, Richard Howitt has praised the success of young people participating in a new initiative launched by Essex & Suffolk Water and youth charity The Prince’s Trust.

Nine young people from around the Chelmsford area have completed the first ever Get Into Water programme. The programme is a three week course designed to provide unemployed 16-25 year olds with the opportunity to learn about the water industry and get some valuable hands-on work experience, before hopefully moving into employment in the water industry.

During the three week course, participants gained essential experience in water industry roles. The group experienced life working alongside Essex & Suffolk Water employees out in the field in a number of key operational areas.

On Friday 24 October the achievements of the young people who have completed the programme were celebrated at a special presentation hosted by Essex & Suffolk Water at Essex County Cricket Club in Chelmsford. Richard Howitt MEP presented achievement certificates to the young people in recognition of the experience and skills they gained during the Get Into Water programme.

Brian Olley, Essex & Suffolk Water Distribution Manager, said: “We were delighted to work in partnership with The Prince’s Trust to provide this exciting opportunity for unemployed young people that are interested in a career in the water industry.”

“It was fantastic to see the development of the individuals on the course and their determination to more than simply find employment, but start a career. We hope that from those taking part in the Get Into Water course we will be able to recruit a number of enthusiastic new employees into essential operational roles.”

Richard Howitt MEP, said: "It’s great to celebrate the successes of our young people in Essex, especially when there’s often negative attitudes towards the things young people may do. These young people have worked hard and gained invaluable experience, ranging from formal first aid training to how to locate a leak and read a water meter.”

“I am extremely pleased European money is helping youngsters who were struggling to find the right job. The efforts of Essex & Suffolk Water and The Prince’s Trust to change the lives of young people is to be highly commended”

Richard Garnett, Prince’s Trust East of England Get Into Programme Manager comments: “Get Into Water has provided young people with the opportunity to learn new skills in this specific sector of employment and improve their confidence and motivation. This is all absolutely key when trying to get a job.”

“The Get Into courses were developed in response to Prince’s Trust research which showed young people wanted worthwhile jobs, which offered them career opportunities but often felt held back in life by their lack of skills, experience and qualifications. The Get Into Water course has helped the participants overcome these obstacles by developing their practical skills and experience to help move them into employment.”

For further information please contact Sarah Pinkerton on 01245 212862.

Notes to editors

• Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives.  It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation.  It works with 14- to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. 

• The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped more than 575,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each working day. More than three in four (78%) young people The Prince’s Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at www.princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.

• The Prince’s Trust runs the Get Into programme in various industry sectors and receives support for the programmes from the European Social Fund.

• Richard Howitt MEP is the European Parliament’s spokesperson on Corporate Social Responsibility