About

WELCOME TO TALENT MATCH & BLACK COUNTRY IMPACT


Talent Match is funded by the BIG Lottery. Black Country Impact - THIS PROJECT is receiving up to £34 million of funding made up of £17 million from the EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND and £17 million from the YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE, plus match funding of up to £8 million from the BIG LOTTERY FUND and funding from partners.

Black Country Talent Match is a 5 year project supporting Young Adults aged 18-29 who have been out of work, training or education for at least 6 months and who require additional support to overcome specific barriers to employment.

Aim


Young Adults | Experts Through Experience


To enable Young Adults who are furthest away from being work ready to secure or take up enterprising and/or job opportunities, by improving their confidence and optimism by offering intensive support through the provision of solution focused Mentors.

Project Goals and Objectives


Working throughout the Black Country with Hubs based in each of the 5 Talent Match zones, the project across the 5 years will work with 2017 Young Adults who have been NEET for 6 months or more. This includes 212 (10%) Young Adults who are classed as ‘hidden’ (not signing on).
 

The projects focus is on the following thematic groups:

  • Carers/parents
  • Care leavers
  • Offenders
  • Members of travelling families
  • Disabled
  • Engaged in substance misuse
  • Homeless or in need of housing
  • ‘Hidden’ groups

This project will achieve the following the outcomes:

  • 100% of Young Adults have improved confidence, motivation and optimism
  • Improved access for Young Adults to better quality local employment and training
    • 80% access training and development
    • 30% access work experience
    • 30% access volunteering opportunities
  • 100% Young Adults take responsibility for co-designing their own support packages
  • Improved and better co-ordinated pathways into positive economic activity
  • More Young Adults secure employment, take up training or further education or create their own employment and enterprise
    • 25% secure employment or self-employment

Talent Match Black Country Commitment

Involves Young Adults in co-designing their own tailored support to develop personalized pathways, bespoke support and access to the right advice and guidance.
Develops strong links between businesses and Young Adults through the local Hubs and governance structures and uses the links as a platform for opening up employment opportunities for Talent Match Young Adults
Is creative and locally driven, using the knowledge about the local economy and opportunities to create innovative solutions that focus on the unique needs of the area.

Is clearly focused on our target beneficiaries, including businesses and employers who heavily influence the design and delivery of the programme.
Is tightly focused on the areas of greatest need, those furthest from the labour market and those classed as ‘hidden’ in order to demonstrate impact on the lives of the Young Adults we are targeting.
Provide good value for money and Social Return on Investment and develops an approach to ensure that the benefits of working together in partnership continues when the funding ends (sustaining).
 

If you are an employer/business and want to find out more

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If you are a young adult and want to find out how you can get involved click here

Interested?

If you are a referral partner and want to make a referral

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