Training centre getting shut down

[BTE Plumbers]

I have been working with a training centre that helps 16-19 year old's get an education. The young people that we work with have problems at home or otherwise and we give them a final chance of an education in a different environment tailored to their individual needs. We now face being shut down because of funding cuts. As usual the cuts are affecting those most in need.
I don’t know about the rest of you guys on here but I didn’t do too well at school and could have done with some help like BTE provide.
I have worked with them for over 3 years and have seen nothing but good things.
Would you guys be interested in supporting us?
We have a petition that we are getting people to sign. The link below will guide you to the petition and also provides further information about our situation.
To put this into perspective for you guys:
I am currently training 9 lads on the 6189 course. They are all in their last year of free education. If our contract is terminated these guys will be unable to continue their course with us and after searching for apprenticeships or other college courses available as all back options and there is nothing available that won’t cost them thousands. They will be in a really awkward situation as will I because I feel I have a personal responsibility to these guys.

 

[BTE Plumbers]

The forum wont allow me to post the link to the petition. Can anyone help with this?

 

[Killy Bing]

An admin will be along later who should be able to message you and then post the link up

 

[villa_tom]

I think u need a certain amount of posts to post a link on a thread

 

[Dotty]

Send me the link, I'll check it and post it up for you.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I think you need to go to the big fish !!! we make hardly living out of th eplumbing game this days tbh

 

[BTE Plumbers]

I think you need to go to the big fish !!! we make hardly living out of th eplumbing game this days tbh

To these lads earning anything for themselves by themselves would be great. Most have come from families that have been on benefits for a couple of generations.

We have gone to some ministers and our local mp. We're making progress but still totally in the dark as to how much.

 

[Dotty]

Here's that link!

Save Youth Education In New Malden - e-petitions

 

[Killy Bing]

Anything that gets able kids off the dole, into work and paying taxes get my attention signing now

 

[BTE Plumbers]

Thanks croppie, I've sent you the link

 

[TomLane]

Have signed the petition also.

Hope that it all works out for you everyone.

 

[Plumb08]

Signed.

Have you tried circulating this on social media sites such as twitter, if you get the right attention it could spread like wildfire.

 

[Toxic Ted]

Done.......

 

[SimonG]

Done.

 

[REDSAW]

go on then..

you have my vote, anything to stop the ub40 circle of chavs.

hope it works out

 

[BTE Plumbers]

Signed.

Have you tried circulating this on social media sites such as twitter, if you get the right attention it could spread like wildfire.

Thanks, we have a twitter and have discussed it on there but haven't posted any links to the petition there yet. We will now

 

[BTE Plumbers]

Thanks for the support people it's invaluable and massively appreciated.

 

[Killy Bing]

Try asking
@stopcocks
@UK_Apprentices
@PimlicoPlumbers

 

[turnpin]

Just done ..best of luck regards turnpin

 

[zeebeedee]

Signed best of luck.

 

[BTE Plumbers]

Thanks guys for your support hopefully we will get the right peoples attention and make a difference.

 

[Masood]

Signed, best of luck!

Try contacting papers like the Sun or the Daily Mail - they like stories like this...

 

[jase158]

I will sign now, but interested to know a bit more, What area are you from? How far do these young people go? do they progress to become plumbers? You are fighting a loosing battle unfortunately with all these cuts, you will undoubtedly loose as the government need the money for there second homes etc. but good luck. could you speak to the local college and get them help you out by getting them to help finish the courses. I went through a right nightmare at college, I had to be on benefits to qualify for a free course, but couldn't claim benefits as at college, catch 22. But there should be funding for these kids if they are on benefits (things might of changed since I went to college though) I think our benefit system should change to support people in college, no college, no money. IMHO

 

[Derek Hardman]

Signed, posted on facebook and twitter.

 

[BTE Plumbers]

I will sign now, but interested to know a bit more, What area are you from?

New Malden in Surrey.

How far do these young people go? do they progress to become plumbers?

We've had no Charlie Mullins yet. Depends what you class as "far" I suppose. We run FL programs that consist of Personal & Social Development, Maths, English, IT and a Vocational area. We nearly entirely work with learners working at and below level 1 qualifications. For a long time we have been working toward offering Level 2 quals in order to get them up to a more employable level and have achieved that last year. This is the first group of Level 2 NVQers I've had at BTE.
We have 100 or so young people each year and nearly all progress and achieve if they stay with us. Many have gone on to be successful in a wide range of professions, obviously some haven't but all have gained something. I have just found one of my learners a full-time job with a local plumber.
We are not just a Training Center, due to the nature of the learners we work with we have no option but to offer pastoral care pretty much as a priority. The fact is they come somewhere regularly where they have to behave as adults and they learn and gain new experiences and skills.
If I come across defensive I don't mean to, i could go on for hours about this as you can see. Thanks for signing the petition

You are fighting a loosing battle unfortunately with all these cuts, you will undoubtedly loose as the government need the money for there second homes etc. but good luck. could you speak to the local college and get them help you out by getting them to help finish the courses. I went through a right nightmare at college, I had to be on benefits to qualify for a free course, but couldn't claim benefits as at college, catch 22. But there should be funding for these kids if they are on benefits (things might of changed since I went to college though) I think our benefit system should change to support people in college, no college, no money. IMHO

Good idea about talking to a local college, it may come to that.
I am doing a lot to try and get some funding for these guys but I'm not making much progress. Its a really hard course to deliver cheaply. I have a couple that are classed as looked after young people but most are at home with a parent and are not entitled to benefits if they come to college.
I think the text on the petition link gives further info about us too
Thanks again for the support

The benefits system seems happy to pay for apprenticeships at Matalan etc but not for courses such as ours.