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 YNOT activities including DJ-ing and Portsmouth Youth Variety Show. He said the course was “excellent”.

Lisa was referred to Learning Links via Brune Park Community College in Gosport. Lisa was facing permanent exclusion due to inappropriate behaviour and language towards staff and other students. “Learning Links helps those kids who can’t cope with school” . She truanted daily and had not accessed her education fully for 18 months and had therefore fallen behind in all subjects missing vital support from the education system.

Beth is a young woman in her 20’s that worked for Youth Options as a youth worker. Her job role was working with14yrs to 19yrs to advise them at school, college, social events, youth clubs, and work placements.
Information, Advice and Guidance qualifications improved her skills.
Beth has worked for Youth Options for 2 years; she works and communicates with young people very well.

Robert is a young man in his early twenties who has achieved his goals, he got his dream job after he completed his Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) NVQ. When the tutors from Learning Links met Robert he was in full time employment in a betting shop and a volunteer at the Prince’s Trust. He had been trying to gain full time employment in this field for a long time.

Ben attended a A4e Job Search Support Contract programme and undertook Finding and Getting a Job with Learning Links. He appeared shy and reserved; he also found it difficult to engage with the group. Bens main barrier to work was a lack of self confidence as well as not knowing the best way to promote himself.

After being made redundant from his job as a taxi driver, Steven signed on for Job Seekers Allowance through the job centre. At which point, the Job Centre advisor referred him to meet with a Key Worker for one-to-one sessions through Learning Links Nextstep project.Through the initial interview his key worker discovered he did not have a CV and was put off creating a CV because they were created on the computer.

Jenny referred herself to Learning Links after hearing about the service from a friend who was already accessing the Future You project at Learning Links.Jenny had completed a substance misuse treatment just before coming to Learning Links program and looking to re-build her life and start working on her future career. At her first appointment Jenny explained that she wanted to study a Public Services course at College and eventually become a Fire-Fighter.