New Opportunities for Walthamstow

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	John, a Leyton resident, joined STEP two weeks after coming out of prison. He was determined to break out of his old pattern and look for a course or a job that would give him a better future. When a friend told him about STEP it was exactly what he was looking for. "I wanted to get myself into something. Not a cash in hand job, none of that. Get myself onto a course, develop myself, getting my NVQ in bricklaying on STEP will be very big deal," he says. John served eight months in prison, and before that had been arrested for petty offences such as graffiti art and possessing a single joint of cannabis. This life was unstable: "on and off working - cash in hand or bumming about or just surviving. It's hard to break out of," he says. But these days John is more optimistic. John's attendance at STEP is one of the highest in the class and he has gained a reputation for being able to calm disputes and explain things rationally to his class-mates. He has so impressed the STEP managers that they have appointed him as a mentor for other STEP trainees. Ultimately he would like to start his own business. John says: "That's what I've always wanted to do. I've done business studies, painting and decorating, it's all there. Business studies will help. If I finish the bricking course, not if, I mean when, that will be my next target - to just get it all flowing in a way that I can start my own business." John was originally signed up for the 13-week course in bricklaying but he's hoping to be able to extend it to 26 weeks if he can sign up for the New Deal. He still has to miss sessions for official appointments with his probation officer or to sort out problems with his electronic tag, but all his absences have been authorised. He's proud of what he has achieved. "The hardest thing is when you're feeling a bit weak, to still give yourself that boost, get yourself there, do a day's work. But the main thing is knowing that my mum's proud. That's what makes me feel good, that she's happy. Yeah, I am proud. "Now I feel uplifted. I haven't got anything to worry about. It's just the everyday problems that people have. A year ago I had a lot of stuff going on. So really I see myself as a lot more calm, collected, happy kind of thing."

Supported Training and Employment Pathway (STEP) into Construction

Supported Training and Employment Pathway (STEP) is a construction specific employment programme that helps young people learn skills and secure jobs in the building industry.

STEP targets hard to reach groups of young people in Walthamstow under the age of 25, not in education or jobs and the long term unemployed. It helps these young people enter the workforce via a programme of on the joband teacher led training which leads to accredited qualifications.

STEP started in the NOW area in 2003 with £137,294 to March '06 of NOW funding. NOW's investment has enabled STEP to begin its work helping young people whilst also successfully attracting further investment to help STEP continue and grow within the area. To date, STEP has:

	Helped 95 people to get a qualification

	Helped 17 people into full time employment

	Delivered 1,223 training weeks

	Created partnerships with 56 local employers to deliver training and experience

There is a massive demand for skilled people within the construction industry. The Construction Industry Training Board indicates the shortage is around 70,000 skilled personnel. The problem is particularly acute within London whilst local to Walthamstow, the new Stratford City Project will require a large, and skilled, workforce.

STEP also helps young people develop social skills and self esteem, understand the culture of work and move away from anti-social activity. STEP works closely with Leyton Street Wardens and LBWF's Defending Da Hood project to reach out and engage young people and help them into work.

STEP is active in six boroughs across London and is a partnership between London & Quadrant Housing Trust and local training providers.

London & Quadrant Housing Trust purchases over £260m of construction services each year and is the largest builder of social housing in London.

STEP in Walthamstow is supported by the Learning and Skills Council, Job Centre Plus and LBWF.

STEP is actively seeking young people and employers to take part in the programme. Anyone interested should contact Kath Lammas to find out how STEP can help them.

Contact information



Address:	2 Gainsbourough Road Leytonstone E11 1HT




Telephone:	0208 535 2965




Website:	www.lqgroup.org.uk

Useful websites

Construction Industry Training Board
www.citb.org.uk

Waltham Forest College
www.waltham.ac.uk

Hackney Community College
www.comm-coll-hackney.ac.uk

College of North East London
www.conel.ac.uk

Forest Homes, part of London & Quadrant Housing Trust, currently working to regenerate the Beaumont and Leyton Grange housing estates.
www.foresthomes.org.uk