4YP - What they're saying in the press CLICK HERE...

Local social enterprise helping to advise young people on their future

A good example of a new local social enterprise that has been successful is 4YPUK LTD, which has been set up to support young people between the ages of 12 and 25, by offering careers information, guidance and mentoring support.

4YPUK was founded by Gill Boydell and Dee Thomas, who previously worked in the council’s Youth Services team. When it was announced that government funding for Connexions and other children’s services was ceasing, Gill and Dee set about creating a business so that young people could receive support and guidance in an alternative way.

Following support from by the council’s Economic Growth Regeneration and Skills team, the company were quickly able to expand and employ three more advisers, all of whom are well respected professionals locally

Then, last year, the council awarded 4YPUK two contracts to support vulnerable young people. They are now working to help unemployed youngsters back into work or training and offering mentoring support to school age children in Central Bedfordshire.

4YP advisers have worked with more than 500 young people since last May and offer regular drop-in services. The company have also secured contracts with individual schools across the county offering a bespoke service tailored to specific needs.

The company received invaluable help and support to set up their business from WENTA, an organisation which provides business start-up advice. WENTA helped the company to put together a business plan, cash flow forecast and considers marketing strategies.

4YP in Dunstable CLICK HERE...

Great support - thanks…

In our services to the community and young people we often find ourselves needing to sign post people on to other agencies and organisations. In order to maintain our credibility and offer the best support for our communities we need to be sure that the agencies we sign post people on to are professional, experienced and able to do exactly what they say they can. Our experience of sign posting to 4YP is excellent. Many of the young people we come into contact with are often called ‘hard to reach’ but 4YP offer these young people the best service possible. They are patient, knowledgeable, and tenacious which is so important when dealing with young people who are conditioned to being let down. The information sent out in the newsletters is relevant, kept up dated and appeals to the widest of tastes. For us it is a wonderful tool to show young people the opportunities – many of them have received the emailed news letter themselves but need their confidence boosting to say it is worth them trying and that they are worthy of a chance.

Karen the advisor who comes to both The Mayfield Centre in Downside and Grove Corner Young People’s drop-ins is reliable, pleasant and knowledgeable. She goes above and beyond in helping young people to achieve their goals. This is not always an easy task as young people are often so very low in confidence that they do not always want to help themselves for fear of further failure.

Sandy Coyle – Community & Young Peoples Services Manager
Dunstable Town Council.

4YP at Vandyke Upper School CLICK HERE...

I just wanted to say many, many thanks for all your fantastic work with the students on Tuesday. As ever you were amazing – coping with the number of students we had there and giving such valuable advice. Please would you pass my thanks on to Gill. I look forward to working with you again very soon.