This initiative was a pilot project with an aim to help young people take charge of their future, feel positive about their prospects and ultimately gain a career that suits their skills, ability and interests.
The young people have highlighted a number of benefits from taking part in the Academy and mentioned some comments/recommendations, as follows:
- They pointed out that other peers at school are on other courses experiencing activity days but “not challenging the fears of leaving school to a life of drink, drugs, getting into trouble with the police and having nowhere to go, with nothing to do”
- Support for careers at an earlier stage, with courses like KDS Academy, would help them out more; some thought that as early as 3rd year that they should have the option of vocational and practical training