Case Study: KX Recruit x Camden’s Youth Offending Service
King’s Cross Recruit (KXR) and Camden’s Youth Offending Service are working in partnership to pilot a new flexible work experience programme for 16-18 year olds who are within the youth justice system. These young people have often faced various challenges resulting in exclusion or disengagement from education and learning. With the support of the YOS team and KXR’s strong links to local businesses the aim of this programme is to find flexible work experience that will motivate, inspire and provide valuable experience of the world of work. Our hope is that the young people that take part in this programme will move onto sustainable employment, education or training with focus and enthusiasm and leave the world of offending behind them.
This initial pilot programme has been in partnership with the King’s Cross Estate Services team who manage the public areas and many of the buildings in the King’s Cross estate. This enthusiastic and dedicated team is committed to keeping King’s Cross clean, well-maintained, well-lit and secure at all hours of the day and night.
Vanessa Henneker from Kings cross Recruit who is managing the coordination of this programme explains that King’s Cross Estate Services (KCES) are a key part of our pilot programme, “JPC by Samsic the Environmental Services team at King’s Cross were the first to sign a young person up to the programme, they have gone over and beyond, not only have they committed to offering flexible placements for young people in the youth justice system, they are paying them London Living Wage, which helps them feel they are contributing to the team and feeling valued for their time and efforts”.
Our first young person who signed up to the programme is Blendi, 17, and he is undertaking a long-term work placement with JPC by Samsic, the Environmental Services team at King’s Cross. With Blendi’s consent we met with him to get his thoughts and feedback on the programme so far, to see if this would help encourage other young people and businesses to get involved.
Blendi spoke candidly about his struggles in school which ultimately led him to leave mainstream education in year 10, he was in and out of alternative provision and then got caught up within the youth justice system following some offending. He was then referred to the youth offending service where he started to work with Youth Offending Officer, Julie, for around 2 years, he found Julie’s support and guidance invaluable.
More recently Blendi was introduced to Michelle the YOS careers adviser who supported Blendi with his career ideas and job hunting. Blendi explained how he counts himself lucky that Julie and Michelle came at just the right time. He described it as “When you get into a pattern of getting in trouble, you dig yourself into a hole. The hole I had dug myself at that point, I could just about reach to get out of it, Julie and Michelle helped me with that.”
Blendi said that he was job searching for about 2 months when Michelle suggested the work experience programme to him to get some actual on the job experience. Blendi was invited along to an introduction session led by King’s Cross Recruit where three teams from KCES delivered a presentation about their areas of business and the work experience placements on offer, they had a tour of the estate and were taken out for lunch to help explore the area where they could be working.
Blendi decided he wanted to sign up and choose to go with JPC by Samsic. Blendi joined the team after an additional one to one meeting to ensure that the fit was right and that he displayed the right attitude to join the workplace. JPC by Samsic were delighted to support Blendi. Sam Fletcher, Senior Operations Manager reflects on this “He impressed us straight away with his positive attitude and willingness to make a fresh start and fitted well into a large onsite team that works at a fast pace”. In this placement Blendi works as an estate porter, Blendi says his main responsibilities consist of moving equipment, barriers and event props around the estate. When we asked him about the job, he described the team as “really supportive and helpful” and told us how this placement has given him good experience and confidence as well as helping him get into a good daily routine that he was not in beforehand.
The adjustment to a new routine was the most challenging part of the process for Blendi, but he is now used to it. He said the best thing about the job is that “it’s a really nice community here” and mentioned that he likes walking around the area because it’s very different to where he is from.
Another key positive of the placement is that it is paid work experience. Blendi said “It’s always a good feeling getting paid – it’s what motivates me and makes you feel like you’re working for something.” He explained that he probably wouldn’t have stuck to the placement longer term without the pay, which demonstrates just how much of a key motivator it is for him. Furthermore, we asked if the team could have done anything differently to make the experience better for Blendi and he responded “Nothing. All of you have done a really good job for me”. Blendi was very appreciative of the support the environmental services team are giving him during the placement.
Sam Fletcher, Senior Operations Manager at JPC by Samsic believes that the Young Offenders Program is a key element of JPC by Samsic delivering on their company ethos and commitments to King’s Cross Estate Services to engage with the local community. “We passionately believe that the local community is our greatest resource and that we and KCES need to be nurturing local talent at all levels, offering training, support and community engagement. We will be working closely with KX recruit and the Youth Offending Team to ensure that we can offer regular placements at King’s Cross for a variety of Young Persons and hope to see them flourish and become important role models in the local community”.
We then asked what advice Blendi would give to other young offenders in a similar position to where he was a few years ago. He said “The most important thing would be to stay in school – that’s your step to success. If school isn’t an option then do something to earn money, learn and keep yourself busy.”
Blendi’s positive mindset and motivation is clear. He told us “That part of my life is my past, now I just want to focus on myself” and continued “If I put my mind to something, I will do it.” He told us that his Mum is very proud of him.
Sam further comments that Blendi is now with the team 3 days a week and all the feedback from the management team and his colleagues is fantastic. “Blendi has done the hard work and is now reaping the rewards, he should be proud of what he has accomplished and held up as an example to other Young Persons of what can be achieved when the opportunities that are offered are taken”.
Longer term, Blendi hopes to work as a Firefighter. He would soon like to learn to drive and therefore hold a UK Driver’s License in order to make this career possible. However, he really values working with JPC by Samsic currently as he is learning important skills such as team work, working outdoors, communication and structure which he now knows will stand him in good stead whichever path he chooses.