Memorandum submitted by Catch22
Catch22 welcomes the opportunity to respond
to the BIS Committee's inquiry into Further Education funding
and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).
Catch22 is the national charity that helps
young people out of difficult situations. We believe every young
person deserves the chance to get on in life no matter what. So
we help young people, their families and their communities wherever
and whenever they need it most; in schools, on the streets, in
the home, at community centres, shopping centres, in police stations,
and in custody.
We work with over 37,000 young people in
120 projects across the country, helping them to learn, earn,
find a safe place to live, steer clear of crime and give something
back. Before we became Catch22, we were Rainer and Crime Concern,
two national charities that merged in 2008.
Catch22 believes that the transition of
budgets from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) provides an
enormous opportunity to break out of the siloed funding which
is characteristic of the LSC's operation to date. When the budget
moves from the LSC and to both the YPLA and the SFA, Catch22 hopes
that these agencies will think more imaginatively about how to
meet the needs of young people who fall out of mainstream education.
Catch22 is concerned about the gap in responsibility
between the YPLA and the SFA. The handover of responsibility at
age 19 presents a very real risk for young people who may
"fall through the gap". It is vital that the SFA is
able to provide for all young people, maintaining and building
on the achievements of the Raising of the Participation Age. In
particular we would welcome clarification on the process for young
people aged 19 who have not yet completed their course and
who wish to continue—will they remain the responsibility
of the YPLA or become the responsibility of the SFA? How will
the transition be managed?
Catch22 sees a number of key roles for
the new SFA with respect to the young people that we work with
on a daily basis.
Firstly, we are keen to ensure that the SFA
has a range of provision which is flexible enough to meet the
needs of young people who lack any qualifications—enabling
them to gain level one and two qualifications. The SFA must also
ensure that there is a suitable level of provision for "second
chance learning". Some young people that Catch22 works
with do not manage to gain a qualification at the first opportunity
and as such it is vital that they are able to take up an offer
of education or training at a later age.
SECOND CHANCE
LEARNING: JULIE'S
STORY
Julie joined Catch22's service in Essex after
being out of work since April 2009. She was volunteering at a
local youth club for a few hours per week. Julie was keen to gain
some new qualifications in order to improve her application for
college. Despite having the ability to do well at school, she
had not gained many qualifications and had spent some time in
a pupil referral unit. Her lack of qualifications was a result
of rural isolation, behavioural and family problems.
Julie lived in a rurally isolated area which
made it difficult for her to find employment. She also had a number
of family difficulties which resulted in behavioural problems
while at school. She was also living in supported, shared accommodation
and her family support was limited. She had struggled financially
and this prevented her from accessing services and activities
which required money for transport.
Catch22 arranged for Julie to attend the
Catch22 training programme, paying for her transport and
lunch. She worked towards her Level 1 Health and Safety at
work award and passed this with flying colours. Since completing
the Catch22 programme she has gone on to achieve a place
at the regional college doing a Business Administration course
and is enjoying this immensely.
Catch22 works with a number of young people
who have spent time in the secure estate. We are particularly
concerned that the SFA focuses on the standard of learning provided
to these young people by working in partnership with the Offenders'
Learning and Skills Unit. There is currently a large amount of
variation between institutions in the education and training options
offered to young people. Often young people find that they are
unable to do a course they are interested in, or when they are
transferred between institutions they are unable to continue with
a course they have already started.
Finally Catch22 will want to see the SFA
provide for the many young people who will need extra support
to enable them to engage in learning. Currently the benefits system
is extremely restrictive and many young people find themselves
unable to take up learning opportunities for financial reasons.
We hope that the SFA also recognise that some young people will
need emotional and practical support to enable them to take up
and maintain learning. As such it is important that SFA ensure
that this provision is in place. Catch22 believes that there
is an opportunity for the SFA to work closely with the local authority
to jointly commission services in order to provide wrap-around
support services for young people.
The voluntary sector, which has the width and
depth of experience of working with hard to reach young people,
are well placed to provide this type of support to ensure that
young people remain in appropriate ETE and are supported with
their learning needs. As such, it is vital that the SFA and local
authorities work closely with the voluntary sector.
ADEQUATE FINANCIAL
SUPPORT: JOHN'S
STORY
"John" at Catch22 in Surrey had
been waiting for his Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for
over 2 months. He was taking part in a bricklaying course
at East Surrey College which required him paying £5 each
way on travel, three times a week. John was finding coping without
his expected income from EMA very challenging as he was having
to meet his travel costs of £30 a week from his Income
Support, whereas his EMA should have been funding this. John is
currently living alone in a Bed and Breakfast and received no
financial support from his parents.
11 January 2010
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