‘Boost’ for the Future of Young People across West Norfolk

A project supporting 16-30-year-olds to get valuable skills for their future has now expanded its reach across West Norfolk.

The Boost Project, run by Norfolk County Council, is part of the King’s Lynn Town Deal project, funded by the Towns Fund. It aims to help young people get training and employment.

The project is open to young people living, working or studying in West Norfolk. The team has already worked with more than 500 15-30-year-olds in King’s Lynn, helping them to develop their skills and knowledge and offering them career advice.

A case study from the Boost Project reads: ‘As a result of anxiety and other mental health challenges, a participant found it difficult to leave the house every day. The Boost team was able to give that young person support and identified an online course in social care. Since finishing the confidence building course, the young person has applied for two apprenticeships.’

The 1^st April marked the expansion of the project across West Norfolk, thanks to UK Shared Prosperity Funding of £147,049. The UK Shared Prosperity Funding comes from the government’s Levelling Up agenda, which provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025, with the aims of improving pride in place, increasing life chances, investing in communities, and supporting local business, people and skills.

There will be opportunities aimed at two different groups of people: 16-30-year-olds in employment who are looking to gain new skills and 16-30-year-olds who are out of work and looking for employment. The project’s services include employment support, advice and training.

The project will also see grants to businesses in West Norfolk to help to train employees between the ages of 16 and 30, to gain new skills and consolidate their experience into qualifications. In addition, the Boost team is also looking for West Norfolk employers to help young people by giving a career talk, a tour of the business or offer work experience.

Louisa Kiddell, Skills Partnership Project Manager from Norfolk County Council explained:

“We are thrilled to now be able to offer Boost’s services to young people across the whole of West Norfolk, allowing us to work with 16-30 year olds so that they can get new skills, build their confidence, access opportunities, and fulfil their ambitions.

“We have seen the impact that the Boost project has made in King’s Lynn where we’ve been able to support more than 300 young people to begin an activity, get employability support, take part in training, or start a new job.

“We’re also looking forward to working with employers across West Norfolk, helping to upskill young people in their workforce, and tap into the expertise and experience of businesses to support young people.

“I would urge anyone who is interested in finding out more about the difference that Boost can make – a young person or an employer in West Norfolk – to please get in touch.”

There are many ways that the Boost Project can offer support to young people, including activites such as digital and cyber security training, construction CSCS cards and work experience. Training, such as management, forklift, and digital programmes, are just some of the programmes that could be provided to those in employment.

Councillor Terry Parish, Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Lead Member for Skills said:

“The expansion of the Boost project offers a fantastic opportunity for young people in west Norfolk to get the skills and support they need.

“Boost reflects the UK Shared Prosperity Funding objectives for West Norfolk, to build pride in place, facilitate high quality skills training, support pay, employment, and productivity growth, and increase life chances.

“Whether in employment or out of work, through Boost, young people can get targeted support that will assist them to progress in the direction they want in employment, education, or volunteering.

“The project will also create connections with employers in west Norfolk, allowing businesses to upskill and develop their staff.

“Boost has already benefited a large number of young people working, studying, and living in King’s Lynn, and I look forward to seeing the difference the project will make to young people across west Norfolk in the coming year.”

If you are a young person or an employer in West Norfolk that would like to find out more about how Boost can help, please contact Boost at boost@norfolk.gov.uk