A GROUP of unemployed 14- 18 to 40-year-olds from Goole have successfully completed a new 12-week programme run by Humber-wide charity CatZero, which was funded by the Drax Foundation.
Several of the 14 participants who began the programme are looking at more positive prospects, having taken part in a number of activities to improve employability, increase skills attainment, improve physical and mental health and wellbeing, and overcome barriers to personal development.
This is the first time CatZero has worked with the Drax Foundation, who have been proud to support the charity’s vital work for unemployed people in Goole. Staff at Drax have been attentive to the programme’s outcomes and welcomed the participants to Drax Power Station as part of their development work and were keen to take part in the programmes’ Café Day, held at Saltmarshe Hall.
Café days are an integral part of CatZero’s programmes of this type, allowing people to gain a whole range of skills, from planning and implementation to cookery skills, service, and front of house, and most importantly, working as a team and building confidence.
The participants organised the Saltmarshe event, planned the menu, arranged themselves into job roles for the event, and created a fantastic showcase for supporters of the programme. Visitors included the East Riding of Yorkshire High Sheriff Tina Cerutti, staff from Drax, members of the police, and organisations who have supported the CatZero team during their 12 weeks in Goole, including the YMCA, the Green Team, JobCentre Plus, and Goole Boxing Club.
Sergei, who was evacuated from Ukraine in late 2022, has almost two decades of experience in the construction industry but his qualifications are not accepted in the UK. He said: “I am doing the programme to help me to improve my English and grow in confidence, so that I am better able to find work. I feel that it has helped me towards this goal.”
Jacky Bowes, a new CatZero trustee who is passionate about the work of the charity, said when the participants were halfway through the programme: “The transformation at this point is absolutely incredible. The look of pride on their faces at the Saltmarshe event. That was the first time I saw the programme in practice, and it has blown me away.”
In addition to mock interviews, CV work, and qualifications – of which they gained a combined number of 60 during the 12 weeks, including first aid, and health and safety – the group were offered the chance to sail on CatZero’s 72-foot Challenge yacht, first on a taster sail and later for an 8-day voyage to Holy Island. The yacht is used as a tool for change, encouraging teamwork, confidence building, and giving participants the opportunity to work on an essential crew rota.
Abi (20) was on both of these voyages and said: “I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen when I signed up with CatZero. I have never had a job and was really struggling with confidence before, but since being with CatZero I have been talking to all sorts of people, including at the Café Day, when I was chatting to the guests about the programme and what it meant to me.
“I had a fantastic time on the sail, although I did want to get off to start with as it was so windy, and the boat seemed halfway in the water at times! I didn’t want to do the night shifts and was going to refuse, but the crew encouraged me and taught me to face my fears and challenge myself.
“It was a big adventure, with good days and bad days, but it was my favourite part of the programme. I had an amazing time, learnt about knots and navigation, and we also had a really fun time laughing with each other.
“The team has since helped me to apply for a job in care, which I hope to get so that I can gain some experience. I want to go into childcare, so this is my first step.
“I have met some great people, done some fantastic things, and I am looking forward to hopefully getting my first ever job.”
CatZero has offices in Grimsby and Hull, running established programmes in both of those areas and occasional programmes in Scunthorpe. Its programmes have an impressive 95 per cent retention rate across the Humber. The charity has previously run courses in the Goole area, and everyone was excited for this chance to return to the town.
Jane Breach, Drax Community Engagement & Visitor Centre Team Leader, said: “CatZero does amazing work across the Humber region and the Drax Foundation was delighted to support the organisation in delivering a new programme in Goole. Initiatives such as these help to build skills, confidence, and increase employment opportunities for young people. I have no doubt that the confidence and skills gained by those taking part in the 12-week programme will boost the future careers of the young people who took part.”
For more information about CatZero, visit www.catzero.org or telephone 01482 333303. For more about the Drax Foundation, see www.drax.com/about-us/our-communities/