Terremplo inter-regional strategy
Following the collaborations fostered through the Terremplo Hubs and Community of Practice CoP entertained through meetings, updates and attendance to workshops and events over the last year, we understand the importance of collective skills to be developed as an inter-agency network in partnership with local organisations in our regions, to transfer best practices from other territories we can learn from and adapt successful initiatives to the needs of our local communities, particularly young people Not in Education, Employment or Training NEET.
In line with the needs analysis carried out on the first year of the Terremplo project and common understanding of the issues related to our target group, all partners have increased their institutional capacity and agreed the following strategic objectives going forward:
• Strengthen the individual skills of young NEETs, including transversal, technical, and social competencies.
• Create and promote sustainable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities tailored to labour market needs.
• Enhance the territorial ecosystem capacities by providing services, training, and opportunities aligned with local and sectoral demands.
• Reduce systemic and environmental barriers for young people to access training and employment opportunities.
As outlined in the capitalisation document highlighting the territorial profiles, mapping of services available in local areas, main challenges faced by the young people NEETs, and the common framework with concrete actions plans, all CoP members have agreed the following recommendations to implement over the next 3 years:
1. The social and professional integration of young people NEETs into the labour market requires tailored training addressing additional barriers and not yet available in the mainstream provision.
2. A combination of transversal skills and hard skills development should be facilitated by VET and employment providers setting up optional short courses, including flexible delivery formats, qualified learning recognition and coaching approaches.
3. Inter-agency support should be coordinated by the services providing guidance, health, education and entertainment to young people, with shared information to be able to monitor, follow up and ensure consistency and sustainability.
4. Skills shortages and new emerging sectors represent an opportunity to be sought through networking with potential employers that can offer apprenticeships to disadvantaged young people, including mentoring programmes to integrate them.
5. Information, advice and guidance IAG should be simplified in terms of updating, number of online websites of reference and language for low literacy levels.
6. Promoting non-formal learning through volunteering, Arts and sports should be ensured for all job seekers to engage with their local community, networking and develop a sense of belonging, particularly by those suffering discrimination.
7. An entrepreneurial mindset should be promoted among young people NEETs, not only fr those looking at setting up their own business, but also as an innovative approach to develop resilience, autonomy and self-efficacy.
Concrete action plans have been committed through bilateral Memorandum of Understanding MoUs, signed between partners in the form of intent declarations to keep collaborating in the future, and promote initiatives to address the needs of young people NEETs, such as:
- Dedicate time to search, monitor and promote apprenticeship and work experience opportunities available in the local area to young people attending programmes allowing for flexible time arrangements.
- Organise annual tool fair event, inviting target young people NEETS through youth workers and practitioners from other services, promoting networking and FET courses in the local area.
- Continue promoting community and adult education programmes that focus on peer education, community development and employability, including those with a focus on social welfare, welfare to work, information provision and advocacy for people working in the community, voluntary, local development sectors.
- Develop specific programmes aimed at strengthening young people's digital skills, so that they can better adapt to the demands of the modern labour market.
- Campaign for greater investment in self-employment advice to promote entrepreneurial initiatives among job seekers.
- Outreach young people and organise democratic participation workshops to gather their views on sustainable employment policies.
- Setup Alumni and follow up monitoring mechanisms to those who have received training and/or guidance support, beyond the minimum regular programme attendance periods.
- Develop creative methods to ensure young people understand and communicate better the skills they have acquired outside of the traditional professional framework, including raising transversal skills awareness.
- Create more work placement opportunities to enable young people to discover different professional sectors.
- Implement a strengthened support system for NEETs, including a re-engagement phase and psychosocial follow-up.
- Share and promote innovations and best practices with local and European partners.
- Facilitate a consultation space between local stakeholders on apprenticeships and the integration of vulnerable youth, including networking events with businesses and local stakeholders to adapt services to the needs of young people.
We would like to thank all associated partners and stakeholders endorsing the Terremplo strategy, and we invite more partners to join our efforts to make our services more accessible.