Council launches scheme to keep kids in school

Young people in Plymouth will be supported to stay in school and achieve better results through a new scheme using one-to-one mentors as guides.

Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, signed off the new Skills Aid Plymouth (SAP) scheme to support teens to stay in school and get the qualifications the city needs them to have.

SAP will help pupils understand and gain important employability skills which will improve future chances in an increasingly competitive job market and broaden their career options.

Young people likely to benefit most from the scheme will have their names put forward to Plymouth City Council by their school. Initially the scheme will involve three city-schools including All Saints Church of England Academy Plymouth, Marine Academy Plymouth and Sir John Hunt.

Those young people accepted onto SAP will then be assigned a personal mentor for one year, who will not only help them with practical tasks like homework but will also accompany them on field trips and visits to local businesses.

The first group of mentors, who have been recruited on a voluntary basis from across the city, began their training this week with the Council's education team. A large number of mentors are from Plymouth's Rotary Clubs, who are official partners of the scheme.

Councillor Williams, explains: "This is an incredibly worthwhile scheme that aims to target young people in need of a little extra guidance and support to ensure they stay on the right track and achieve in life. It's a real co-operative venture involving key partners - the three schools involved, Plymouth's Rotary Clubs and local thriving businesses who will offer young people inspiring visits and experiences."