Young people across West Norfolk offered ‘Boost’ for their future

The Boost project is aiming to reach more young people in Hunstanton.

Do you know of any 16–30-year-olds that would benefit from opportunities to get the skills they need for their future career?

The Boost project, run by Norfolk County Council, has been helping young people in King’s Lynn into training and employment as part of the King’s Lynn Town Deal project.

Thanks to UK Shared Prosperity Funding, young people across West Norfolk are now able to access the project’s services which include employment support, advice, and training, and support to gain confidence and overcome your anxiety about work or college, working alongside the West Norfolk Training Grants scheme.

The Boost project team is working with two different cohorts of young people - 16-30-year- olds in employment and looking to gain new skills, and young people aged 16-30 who are out of work and looking for employment.

Open to young people living, working in west Norfolk, the Boost project builds on its previous success which saw the team support more than 500 15–30-year-olds in King’s Lynn to gain skills, knowledge, and advice.

The project team will also be working with employers in West Norfolk, providing support to gain access to the West Norfolk Training Grant to help train employees aged 16-30, so that they can gain new skills and consolidate their experience into qualifications that they may not have.

Jo McKennzie English Skills Partnership Project Manager from Norfolk County Council explained: “We are extremely interested in reaching more young people in the Hunstanton area, 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 to please get in touch.”

The type of support offered to young people could include activities such as digital and cyber security training, construction CSCS cards, confidence building workshops and work experience. Training, such as management, forklift, and digital programmes, are just some of the programmes that could be provided to anyone being supported by the program.

Councillor Simon Ring, Deputy Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Portfolio Holder for Business and Culture 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 or volunteering.

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

*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 get in touch - boost@norfolk.gov.uk