Coding skills for young ex-offenders

Marcus is one of our students who is now on an Apprenticeship with a small Tech company in London. He tells his story:

' I left the young people's offending Unit and was able to join the Generating Genius programme two days after. It was great to be able to go straight into this programme. Otherwise I would have gone back to the Gangs and the bad influences in my area. We learn't about interviewing skills and confidence building, how to network with the right people. I had to write my own CV. We also learn t how to do computer coding - python and JAVA.  After four weeks I went for an interview as for an apprenticeship with for an Animation company. I was up against students who were not ex-offenders and I got the position...It is fantastic, my life has been turned around. I know that without this I would probably be back in prison.' 

The first set of funds from Global - Giving has already helped us to set up a programme for 30 young ex-offenders like Marcus who we have been able to place in real jobs or on great apprenticeships. The money has literally changed lives. The chances of these young people  re-offending has been significantly reduced. Many will now have the skills to find jobs  - tech skills are in high demand. Many are now coding better than their trainers. 

We would like to do this again with 30 more. The model is simple we identify 30 young people as they are about to leave prison. They have four weeks of social and technical training. We place them on an apprenticeship with a Tech  company and they are now on a journey to a new and productive life.