Apprentice 'looking forward to supporting others'

Emmanuel Boamah, 19, said being an apprentice via the scheme led by mayor Richard Parker gave him stability and a chance to build on his strengths

A teenager who spent time in care has said becoming an apprentice helped him overcome challenges and find a career supporting other young people.

Emmanuel Boamah, 19, works as a youth participation apprentice for Walsall Council as a result of the £5m Youth Guarantee Trail-blazer scheme.

The initiative, led by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, aims to give skills for life to hundreds of 18 to 21-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Emmanuel, from Bloxwich, said: "My advice to other young people is, it's not about the things that go wrong in your life – it's about what you do afterwards."

"Never waste a conversation, make links – you never know what opportunity might come up," he added.

The West Midlands is one of eight national trail-blazer areas and the mayor launched the scheme at Walsall Council's Our Place, where Emmanuel works.

Emmanuel, who spent three years in the care system from the age of 15, said: "Being in care doesn't offer much stability, so I wanted to create my own.

"The structure of learning in school wasn't quite right for me and, alongside working through some mental health challenges, I didn't know what I should do when I left."

Emmanuel is coached by trained youth workers to develop his skills, while helping others tackle challenges in their own lives.

He added being an apprentice offered him "the stability I need".

"It builds on the strengths I have and gives me the opportunity to help others that might be in a similar position," Emmanuel explained.

"I know now what career direction I want to go in. I'm excited and looking forward to supporting others to overcome the challenges they face and get into their dream career."

'An inspiration'

Walsall Council said it welcomed the programme and the pathways it would open for hundreds of 18 to 21-year-olds in the town.

"We're very proud of Emmanuel and what he has achieved by his own merit," said Mark Statham, portfolio holder for children, families and lifelong learning.

"His apprenticeship will offer him so many opportunities to develop knowledge and skills that will stay with him for life, and he is also a shining role model and inspiration to many of the young people he will meet in the course of his work."

Labour's Richard Parker added the aim was to give young people the skills and opportunities needed "to get started in an exciting career and set themselves up for life."

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is involved in a number of projects to tackle the high level of youth unemployment in the West Midlands.

Figures earlier this year showed more than 987,000 young people in the UK were classed as NEET, with Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Walsall having rates double the national average.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.