Vision Inspired People (VIP) is a program that motivates and challenges young people aged 16+ who are classified as NEET (not in employment, education or training), and are not currently engaging with Connexions or other employment agencies. This project has been developed by 2XL Youth Projects to engage, equip, enable and empower young people to reach their potential, which is the very heart of 2XL. The project is presently funded by Herefordshire Council.
Every young person that comes onto the VIP programme has already faced many personal challenges varying from family break up, physical abuse, domestic violence, problems in school, criminality, drugs and alcohol abuse and relationship breakdown. As a result of the things they have been exposed to, their confidence, self esteem, self worth and aspirations are often completely crushed. This leaves these young people depressed and hopeless, unable to motivate themselves, especially under recession conditions to confidently go for job or college interviews or make concisive decisions for their future. Connexions estimate that there are around 200 young people who are NEET in Herefordshire and are not currently engaging.
Our aim for the young people who attend VIP is to empower them as valued young adults with the potential to achieve their dreams. We use strength based mentoring to enable each individual to overcome personal challenges. In other words we don’t try to fix their weaknesses but motivate them to draw on their strengths to tackle personal issues. We want to equip young people to build strong foundations of genuine self-esteem, confidence and self worth. VIP includes positive activities and workshops to equip, challenge and inspire innovative thinking to re-ignite dreams and ambitions.
VIP thrives on being unique and innovative, drawing on the success of 2XL Youth Projects and my own past experiences and mistakes to add credibility and genuine empathy with the young people I work with. VIP engages with young people on the level where they are at, creating an environment that encourages young people to be completely honest and open about their needs, fears and aspirations for their life. VIP's edge on other programmes or projects out there that work with young people is the flexibility and individual support that VIP offers. When a young person shows an interest in the programme they are invited to do an informal interview. During this initial interview we are able to assess their individual needs and create a bespoke programme incorporating resources, workshops and activities for that individual. Almost all providers working with young people, NEET or otherwise have generic programmes, VIP strives to break routine, practice and be innovative.
VIP focuses on strength based mentoring, sourcing proven techniques like CBT and brief solution training in the 1-2-1 mentoring sessions. this creates powerful yet a non clinical environment for the young people to relax. The workshop experience was created using an innovative idea that builds workshops based on the individual needs, so in essence every young person on the programme can be supported and challenged in the area of need that is important for them.