Date: May 11, 2007
Release: Immediate
ONE STOP AWAY FROM SUCCESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS NEW CONNEXIONS
SHOP OPENS
May 10 saw the official launch of the Connexions One Stop Shop
for young people in Hammersmith & Fulham. The brand new One
Stop Shop provides free and confidential advice, guidance and
support to 13 to 19 year-olds and young adults up to the age of 25
with learning difficulties or disabilities about careers as well as
other important areas of their lives. Its official opening was
celebrated by a launch party, which was attended by local young
people; Cllr Antony Lillis, H&F Council’s cabinet member for
children’s services; Carole Bell, assistant director of children’s
services, and senior children’s services staff.
The Connexions One Stop Shop, in King Street, next to Hammersmith
Town Hall, was formally opened with the cutting of a launch cake
and a variety of fun activities during the event, including DJ,
food, fruit ‘mocktails’, head and shoulder massage, magician, quiz
and goodie bags. There was also a range of workshops and activities
linked to issues relevant to young people such as disability
awareness, sexual health, drugs and alcohol, while The Lyric
Theatre ran a ‘lyric writing’ workshop. Young people also had the
opportunity to meet actor David Ajala, aka Sean Campbell from Sky
One’s Dream Team TV football drama.
The Connexions One Stop Shop offers a wealth of information, advice
and support to help young people make choices related to health,
careers, relationships, drugs and alcohol, further education,
housing, pregnancy, money and leisure time. Young people in the
borough can sit down and talk through their needs with a personal
adviser and, in turn, receive tailored support, or they can take
their time researching and discovering the opportunities available
to them through the service.
In addition to being able to access the full range of services
offered by Connexions, the One Stop Shop offers young people access
to a variety of services provided by other organisations including
counselling, mediation services, information regarding the law, and
sexual health advice, ensuring that young people only have to make
one stop to locate the support they need.
H&F Council commissions a range of providers, including CfBT
Education Trust (who manage the One Stop Shop), local authority and
voluntary sector partners to provide the Connexions service.
David Ajala told young people at the event, “I have used Connexions
to get work so my advice is to use this place to help you to be the
best you can. Be ambitious and passionate about what you do.”
Margaret Abbott, UK Services Director at CfBT Education Trust,
said, “We are delighted to see the official opening of the
Hammersmith & Fulham One Stop Shop. This is an excellent
facility for young people in the borough and offers them all the
information they need to make the right choices. Whether they are
seeking advice related to careers, money issues or relationships we
are committed to providing them with the best support along the way
to help them achieve their life goals”.
Cllr Antony Lillis, cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“We want CfBT Education Trust and other key partners to work with
us to help young people achieve their potential and act upon young
people’s feedback. The Connexions service and this fantastic new
centre will provide wide-ranging and in-depth support on areas such
as careers, training, housing, financial advice and more to young
people in Hammersmith & Fulham, helping them on their way to
achieving their goals.”
Ends
Notes for Editors:
Photos of the event are available to journalists. Please
contact Gillian Parry on 0118 902 1221.
About CfBT Education Trust
CfBT Education Trust is a leading education consultancy and
service organisation. Our objective is to provide education for
public benefit both in the UK and internationally. Established 40
years ago CfBT Education Trust now has an annual turnover exceeding
£100 million and employs more than 2,000 staff worldwide who
support educational reform, teach, advise, research and
train.
As a not-for-profit organisation we re-invest around £1 million of
our surpluses every year for practice-based educational
research.