Michael’s in line for a great career
Pictured: Michael Eastwood
Location: Hartlepool, North East
ESF Funding: Skills Funding Agency
ESF Target Group: Higher Education and Skills, Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
When keen inline skater Michael Eastwood was helping to get Hartlepool’s Rozzy Plaza skate park off the ground, little did he know that he would soon have his ideal job there.
20-year-old Michael is currently training as a youth worker with Hartlepool Council’s Integrated Youth Service, working at the skate park during the day and at the nearby Rossmere Youth Centre youth club during the evenings. This experience provided him with a stepping stone to securing an additional post as a part-time sessional Youth Support Work Post within Hartlepool Borough Council’s Integrated Youth Support Service. He is hoping to start studying for an NVQ soon.
But the future wasn’t always so bright because just a year ago he was unemployed and also facing the prospect of becoming a dad.
Luckily, the Youth Service put Michael in touch with Hartlepool Council’s Connect2Work and Going Forward Together projects which arranged a year’s paid placement for him with the Youth Service working at the Rozzy Plaza.
As well as receiving a much-needed salary, he’s also getting a string of youth work qualifications under his belt, and the former joiner is now in no doubt he’s found his true vocation.
"I have always been a family-orientated person and a job helping give young people a better future is great for me,” says Michael, who is organising events, helping the youngsters with any issues and playing his part in further developing the skate park.
"I am loving it. It is such a friendly environment in which to work and I’m very grateful to Connect2Work and the Youth Service for giving me this new start."
For more information about Connect2Work, contact Project Leader Jackie McGarry on 01429 523518.