This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
From September, the face-to-face service for NEET (not in education, employment and training) young people will be available through a variety of locations. The aim is to bring the service to NEET young people in the area where they live, enhancing access to support and aligning to the range of newly commissioned youth services across the Island.
The team provides young people with careers advice and guidance, information on education and training opportunity, including apprenticeships, and employability skills. The team also refer to more specialist support and services if these are required.
Each Tuesday from 9 September, the team will be at Cowes Library between 1.30pm and 4.30pm and also at Newport Library between 1pm and 4pm.
From 10 September, the team will be at Newport Job Centre between 10am and 1pm and every subsequent Wednesday.
Starting from Thursday 11 September, advisors will be at Sandown Library between 1.30pm and 4.30pm and every Thursday thereafter.
From Friday 19 September, Choices will be at Ryde Library, between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
Fortnightly sessions will be held at West Wight Sports Centre from Friday 12 September and also from Ventnor Library from 19 September.
Finally, every Monday from 15 September, Choices will be available at Ryde Job Centre between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
Information about Choices will also be available from the help centre at County Hall.
“Important we have a modern, fit for purpose service”
Councillor Richard Priest, Executive member for children’s services, said:
“The Choices team provide an important service and have been based in Newport for a number of years.
“It is important we have a modern, fit for purpose service to give the right support for young people who are NEET. There are many opportunities to be taken such as apprenticeships, which the council is a key supporter of, and further education.
“Making the service mobile and taking it to towns across the Island makes it much more accessible and will mean many more young people can now speak to an advisor and get important advice without needing to visit the Choices building.”
The current Choices office on Newport high street will close as part of the new-look mobile service, saving the council in the region of £70,000 per year.
Image: Watt Dabney under CC BY 2.0
