Last Updated: Oct 31
Category: GBN Projects
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) has provided generous funding to the ABLE project to employ an Outdoor Learning Coordinator for two years. The role will be to develop the existing and potential training opportunities available at ABLE into accredited courses.
The ABLE project is developing into a large scale, sustainable fish farming operation, rearing Sturgeon, ornamental and edible Carp, Tilapia and Catfish, to meet identified local community, and school demand. The project also includes the growth of four acres of coppiced willow for on site renewable energy to heat the fish tanks, the development of a tree nursery, the planting and management of a 15 acre woodland and 4 acres of wildflower meadow and the creation of a 2 km long hedgerow bordering the site.
The objective of ABLE is to provide training and learning opportunities to young people from several groups: those identified as being in danger of exclusion from school; those already excluded; and groups from the probation service. The site is already used by a substantial number of young people. Since 2006, the first year that young people used the resources at the site near Wakefield, over 2000 young people have trained at the site. These young people are already learning about aquaculture and about horticulture, through growing their own vegetables and flowers on site.
Once these activities are accredited there is potential for many further training opportunities to also be accredited. Courses in, for example, land management, composting, environmental conservation, biodiversity, healthy eating and cooking will provide an alternative curriculum to re-engage young people in the education process and ultimately lead to participation in the mainstream economy.
The additional training opportunities at ABLE that the new role will enable, represent excellent value for money. A recent report from The Prince’s Trust – ‘The Cost of Exclusion’ found that youth unemployment costs UK tax payers around £90 million per week. Furthermore, the number of 16-24 year old young people not in education, training or employment has risen from 1.08 million in 1997 to 1.24 million in 2006.
According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families statistics in 2004/5 in the Yorkshire and Humber region there were 45,850 exclusions for fixed periods and 790 permanent exclusions. The report finds that these young people are more likely to get involved with crime. Nearly two thirds of young offenders sentenced in court have either been excluded from school or have truanted significantly. Given the measurable costs of social exclusion ‘The Cost of Exclusion’ concludes that interventions which help young people stay on in education, get into work or avoid crime represent excellent value for money. The objective of the ABLE project is to achieve all three, and thanks to the funding from PHF we are one step closer to achieving this.
The new position was advertised in September and we hope to have someone in post by the end of the year.
