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Rainer has given me the chance to create a secure and stable life for both me and my daughter Ellie. They really care what happens to me.
Rainer young person
Hard work pays for Medway youngsters
Monday 10 December
A group of teenagers from Medway celebrated success after a year of hard work when they were awarded with VRQ qualifications in Motor Skills at an awards ceremony today.
Rainer Medway Vocational Skills Centre works with young people who are considered to be at risk of becoming involved in crime or who are offenders on supervision orders. The young people receiving awards this week have all turned their behaviour around and are now planning for bright futures in the motor trade and other growth industries such as construction or IT.
Nazir Collier, a 16-year-old who received a Level 1 VRQ Certificate in Motor Skills (the equivalent of three GCSEs) today said that he intended to go to university to study Civil Engineering and Construction. He praised the friendly environment, saying it had made a big difference to his ability to learn.
"This is a wicked place to work. Rob and John [tutors at the centre] are like father figures and it is more like a family than anything else. I always look forward to coming in the morning."
Speaking at the event Medway Councillor John Avey said
"I've been very impressed by what I've seen today - I think we need more projects like this. All of the young people should be extremely proud of what they've achieved."
Rainer Medway has been hugely successful in engaging young people who have struggled in a traditional classroom with the numbers of young people taking part in courses during 2007 increasing from 120 to 150 and one hundred percent of those young people who left the service during the course of the year moving on to further education or employment.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. For more information or interviews, please contact Rainer press officer Lucy Jackson on 020 7840 5627.
2. Rainer Medway Vocation Skills centre works with young people aged 13 and above in the Kent and Medway area. The young people are given the opportunity to learn basic motor skills and vocational skills in plumbing, electrical circuits and ICT, and to achieve nationally recognised qualifications. The project works in partnership with the Kent and Medway Youth Offending Teams, the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP), the Probation Service, the Will Adams Centre, Connexions, Nacro, Dulverton trust, Silverbank School and Kent ACP programme.
3. Rainer is the national charity for under-supported young people. We have contact with more than 18,000 young people and young adults in 115 communities across the country - including those who are at risk of family breakdown, in or leaving care, caught up in the criminal justice system, homeless, or outside education, training or employment. www.raineronline.org.
