Southampton Youth Justice team recognised in Police and Crime Commissioner annual awards ceremony

Helping young people gain skills to enter workforce

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones recently presented a Serious Violence Prevention Award to the Southampton City Council Youth Justice team. The award recognised the team for the design and delivery of a new construction course for young people involved in the criminal justice system, providing them with the skills to work for local and national contractors. Completing the course enables young people to visit building sites, see how they work and give an important insight into the practicalities of working in construction.

The serious violence prevention work in Southampton aims to keep children, young people and families safe by providing safe spaces, places for young people such as the Lordshill Youth Project, helping local businesses to identify and report safeguarding concerns, promoting the location of knife surrender bins and much more.

The Youth Justice team’s innovative approach to helping young people into employment includes managing ‘Opportunity Brews’, a café based in the Young People’s Hub in the Civic Centre and attending events with a pizza van, both providing valuable catering and hospitality experience. Learning other skills such as computing and hairdressing and now this newly established award-winning construction skills course means young people now have more opportunities than ever before. The Young People’s Hub is an inviting space for young people to meet safely, have something to eat, play pool or just watch something together on tv. Young people can access courses, learn new skills and get help with everything from college applications to seeking employment.

Councillor Alex Winning, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning said:

“The work that our Youth Justice team put into helping young people gain valuable employment skills is commendable. Giving young people the opportunity for a different life, and believing in their ability to achieve great things, can make such a positive life-changing impact. Congratulations to everyone involved in the design and delivery of the construction skills course.”