George Didn’t Attend School. He was referred to the YNOT project by his Mum in July 2008 as he had not been attending school for a year due to behavioural issues. 

George got involved in a range of activities including DJ-ing and Portsmouth Youth Variety Show.

He said the course was “excellent”

George attended a DJ-ing course with Learning Links, he attended every week and got 1:1 support from the tutor and from his Learning Links Key Worker.

He continues to DJ in his own time. He took part in the Portsmouth Youth Variety Show. Although he did not feel confident enough to appear on stage, George took a very active role within the preparation and rehearsal sessions.

On the night he went backstage, helping with stage management, making and designing props for the show.

George looked at pursuing media as a career option, and attended a one day Radio workshop. He enjoyed the day and said:

it was interesting to see how radio shows are made and to work with other people”

This has greatly improved his confidence. George has worked well in his lessons at Harbour School and involved himself in the school council and COPS, he was voted by his peers, to represent the student executive in the role of media co-ordinator. He used skills he had learnt from the Learning Links YNOT project for this role.

George maintains contact with Learning Links and Sue Washington, the pupil support reintegration officer at Harbour School says that “this has greatly improved his confidence in himself and seems to have given him a sense of purpose.”

George was great to work with and participated fully in every session”

George started attending Highbury College 1 day a week to study Catering and is really enjoying it, although his Mum complains that he never brings cake home for her!

George’s key worker said; “George was great to work with and participated fully in every session, and we were all very impressed with his determination and willingness to re-integrate into education”

George worked part time in a cafe over the summer. In September 2010 he went to start a full time catering course at a local college.