Local Village Network is launching in Barnet, Islington, Camden and Haringey where it will be rolling out it’s unique services to support and inspire 18-24 year olds into employment.
A grass roots charity, Local Village Network will offer access to its Power of an Hour micro-mentoring programme which is based on professionals giving just one hour of their time. Whilst one hour might not seem much collectively they make a significant difference.
Local Village Network caught the attention of the Department for Work and Pensions who liked the simplicity of the model and its digital appeal to young people looking for easy access to what they want via an app. Local Village Network’s services will enhance the support available from job centres. Young adults will have the freedom to explore their options and get real-time help from people sharing their advice and expertise to help shorten the route into employment. Local Village Network also offers time-poor professionals a practical, high impact volunteering experience.
Local Village Network has developed a simple system to harness an untapped resource and connect young people with the world of work in a very hands-on direct way. There is no substitute to hearing from people in work doing the job, sharing their experience and insights, tips and hints. By participating in Local Village Network’s Power of an Hour Programme, young people will be fast tracked into sustainable employment.
The Power of an Hour programme has attracted strong interest from business with top employers and organisations such as PwC, the Banijay Group, Wates, Lloyd’s Banking Group, ITV plc, Pearson plc, Galldris, VolkerFitzpatrick, the Guild of Human Resource Professionals, the Financial Conduct Authority, FTI Consulting, STEM, Facebook, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and Hogan Lovells, all endorsing the pilot.
Announcing the roll out of Local Village Network to job centres, Founder and CEO Rachael Box said, “I’m overwhelmed by the backing we’ve received across industry. It’s testament to how hard organisations are working to break down barriers to entry and open their doors to support young people at this challenging time. The willingness and commitment of individual employees to give their time is humbling and it affirms my belief in the collective power of the community to effect positive social change.”
Local Village Network’s important offer is vital in 2021 after the catastrophic employment consequences of the pandemic on the young. The jobs market is even more competitive and too many jobs still go unadvertised. Factors which hit disadvantaged youth the hardest as they have very limited, or non-existent, professional networks.
“It is vital that we unlock access to wider employment opportunities and networks for those young people living in poverty, to give left-behind youth the mindset, skills and confidence that will propel them into careers they did not believe were open to them. We encourage everyone who is in this position to speak to their work coaches about this innovative programme”. said Box.
At Barnet jobcentre Jason Baki, Partnership Manager said, “We’re so excited that Local Village Network is bringing its digital youth hub to jobcentres in London and delivering its Power of an Hour to our young claimants. LVN brings a new and innovative approach that will improve the chances of our young people getting into sustainable employment.”
To complement their Power of an Hour Programme, Local Village Network also offers a one-stop youth services signposting app which features over 1500 listings from live jobs vacancies and employability programmes to specialist support and youth activities.
