With women seven times less likely to have a job in the Engineering industry, Romanian-born Natalia Morar is not fazed and has kick-started her career here at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

Natalia said she likes being one of only two girls in her class at CONEL, and finds her Engineering Level 3 Diploma course to be highly motivating and an extremely comfortable environment to learn in. The comprehensive course covers electrical work, circuitry, mechanics and health and safety.

Natalia said, “There are not a lot of women in engineering so that was motivation for me.  Being a girl in the class with mostly boys actually motivates me. I can learn better and learn different things from those around me. It’s a comfortable environment to work in. Most of my friends are from my class. They help me when I’m not sure of things or if I can’t find my way around. It’s a big group, 22 boys and two girls.

“On my course I do electrical work, studies about circuits and mechanics, projects and safety rules. I like being in college, I have my friends. The teachers want the best for us, I feel that they actually help me a lot if I didn’t understand, they are always there to help.”

INSERT VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYBDOHbjOt0&list=PLyWOKogG2QZ1O4NVhDR9_yJQsytwLc-lp&index=14

“Be motivated, self-disciplined, friendly and open to challenge.” – Natalia Morar

Natalia is grateful for CONEL’s excellent connections in all areas of the engineering industry, and hopes to use this to her advantage when looking for an apprenticeship in Project Management.

Qualified Engineers can earn very good money, with average salaries well above the national average and over 47,500 Engineering and related technical consultancy jobs in London alone.  If, like Natalia, you are passionate about engineering then click here to apply for one of our courses: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/engineering.html

Join us at our next Recruitment Open Evening…
You may be qualified or unqualified, but we are keen to work with you to find the most suitable career path and opportunities within the College. Our current and upcoming teaching opportunities include:
Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Engineering Assessor, Lecturer and Assessors in Construction Management, Electrical Installation, Plumbing and Gas, Brickwork, Painting Decorating, Multi-trade and Maintenance Operations and also Carpentry and Joinery.

Recruitment Event
Date: Thursday 11 July | Time: 2pm – 7pm
Tottenham Centre, The College of Haringey, Enfield and North-East London, High Road, London, N15 4RU.

To register your interest, please email:

learning@capitalccg.ac.uk
Marcia Summers, Assistant Principal

Almost 70 CONEL students on our Public Services and Media courses have played a key role in the successful running and planning of this year’s Pan London Youth Day at Alexandra Palace, which was held on Thursday 13 June.

Organised by the Metropolitan Police’s Engagement and Inclusion Unit, The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, and Haringey Police & Community Amateur Boxing Club, CONEL students have helped run the event for the past six years.

This year saw the collaboration of Public Services and Media students, supporting on security, catering, media and maintaining a press office. A total of 65 students were responsible for ensuring everything ran smoothly for the attending 5,000 secondary school students.

Handpicked for the role by CONEL Public Services teacher Brendan Berry, the students helping to organise the event ranged from Level 2 to 5, many returning from previous years to take on new responsibilities and sharing their wisdom with younger students.

Brendan Berry added: “The Pan London Youth Day enables our HNC and HND Learners to showcase their skills by working with the Metropolitan Police and other sector professionals to bring a "One Stop Shop" experience to the young people of London every year. The event has matured over the past six years to what it has become today and it is becoming London's second biggest careers and youth event for school children from schools and Colleges within the M25. 

“Our students work with the Metropolitan Police from the earliest stages of the event, attending the initial meeting to discuss the budget and venue, site set-up and logistics to final delivery. The day itself is demanding, students assist in setting up the exhibitors, welcome visitors, provide lunch for visitors and exhibitors, and ensure the event closes and breakdown all the equipment with the exhibitors. This event enables both courses to consolidate their Event Planning and Continuous Personal Development Units and no other college can claim that their students work on an event such as this to consolidate their portfolio. It’s a huge responsibility, which they meet with maturity and dedication.”

2019 marks the eleventh anniversary of the event, which provides young people with career insight and the opportunity to interact with key figures in the community. Martin Hewitt, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, writes: “Young people have a chance to meet and discuss opportunities that are available academically, culturally, socially and career-wise, in a safe environment, with organisations from the private, public and voluntary sector, as well as the chance to meet people with a history of achievement in their chosen field of work.”

Level 2 Media student Pauleen Lijertwood said, “There are CONEL students from all different levels here, representing the college and what it has to offer Londoners. Today we’ve been promoting the college and courses that are running for all students. We’ve also been promoting our course – media – and its different aspects.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to understand the value of our own course a bit better by promoting it to potential new students. It’s a great lesson in confidence and talking to people, too.

“As a mature student who’s done Level 1 and Level 2 and grown through the college, I’ve found it very inspiring to work with other students at different levels and on different courses. We’ve supported each other and shared skills – I’ve enjoyed myself, and I’m confident that I’m going to build up my portfolio through these opportunities, so I’m happy.”

As well as gaining valuable work experience in event-coordination, planning and delivery, students had the opportunity to explore career options for themselves. Stands included various sections of the Armed Forces and the police, as well as Health and Wellbeing paths and educational advice charities. Students were also able to learn about the work of social enterprise Reach Society, headed by Capital City College Group Governor Dr Dwain A. Neil, OBE. Dr Neil attended the event and said:

“There are a good range of exhibitors here, and if students don’t know what they want to do, it’s good to talk to every single exhibitor, because that will trigger something that they perhaps haven’t thought about yet. I think that’s a real benefit of today. This event has been set up to offer a wide range of opportunities in an environment where students can find the time to think about their futures.”

Tristan Taylor, owner and CEO of Swinley Bike Hub, said: “In our second year supporting the Pan London Youth Day it was fantastic to see the event grow once more with a diverse selection of organisations from the Armed Forces to Sportsable. The reason we are so passionate about supporting this event is that it helps us to engage with colleges around London to encourage those colleges and students that there is a diverse world of opportunity outside of the City of London.

“Swinley Bike Hub is based in a 2,500 acre forest less than an hour from London. Working with Colleges inside London we host pupils in the forest and allow them to experience being outdoors, working together outside the usual working environment and to transfer some skills; the obvious being bike handling, the less obvious is the experiential side which allows students to reflect and think of what is possible. The sessions break down boundaries even within same classes and really brings people together. The Pan London Youth Day allows us to connect again year on year with colleges to add this experiential learning into the curriculum year ahead. Swinley Bike Hub loves attending and the students remembered us this year with our portable pump track so they could all have a go – it is fantastic seeing them ride bikes!”

Adam Latrache, Managing director at SFE Academy added: “The London Youth day offered an opportunity for secondary school learners from London and the Greater London area to get up close to the public services who serve their community so well. Some of the learners in attendance by their own admission had only seen some of the public services on display on the day on TV and YouTube. So the London Youth day would have been their first encounter with them. It was nice to see young adults get inspired when they heard  the stories of heroism from the London Fire brigade or experience what our paramedics do in an emergency situation. 

“SportsAble and Sport, Fitness and Exercise Academy (SFE Academy) were heartened to see so many young adults interested in disability sport. We had queues of people wanting to learn more about Boccia and wheelchair basketball and many got to try it out for themselves! 

“We had many individual conversations from learners to teachers and even some politicians about what we had to offer and our unique role within the community. Helping people with a range of sensory and physical disabilities overcome their difficulties through the medium of sport and our unique educational courses and qualifications. 

“If our aim was to increase awareness of disability and the Power of sport...we certainly achieved our aim.”

Click on the link if you are interested in becoming a Public Services or Media student.

The College of Haringey, Enfield & North East London (CONEL)’s Tottenham Centre recently hosted its annual Media end of year show and awards ceremony. This event showcases and celebrates the work of the college’s creative and media students, in subjects including game design, photography, 2D and 3D design, Media and Music production.

The day-long event kicked off with an e-sports tournament which saw students go head-to-head playing popular games Tekken 7, FIFA 19 and Super Smash Bros. Finalist in the FIFA 19 tournament, Geobri Mayingi said: “Everyone thinks they are the best, so it’s good to finally be able to put it to the test. It’s great to be able to play against all my friends in college and have fun together.”

While the tournament was going on, there were live music performances in the sunny square from Level 2 and Level 3 music students. Level 3 students Ellis Bocking and Alfie Fraser, stage names Fraser x wys, performed one of their new tracks Lunatic Rapper. 

Students’ photography and game design work was showcased in the canteen. One of our winning students was Photography student Natasha Lynch. Working in housing and looking for some photography lessons, she’d found our photography short course on Google and started the course in February.

Natasha said: “I found it great from start to finish, the support was amazing. I grew in confidence throughout the course with help from my tutors. We were learning things like Photoshop and the fact I could learn so much in such a short space of time without feeling overwhelmed was great. We even had a day trip to the National Portrait Gallery, which helped us with our project.”

“Great teaching and great support meant we could produce great work. I think this experience has changed me.”

Natasha wants to become a teacher, so, she has signed up to a Teacher training course with CONEL starting in September.

The awards ceremony itself was held in the evening in our Microsoft suite and was hosted by CONEL students Tai-Jaun Akberali and Rachel Ngopwani.

Awards were given out to the following students: 

• Best Live Show Director - Nicholas Jennings
• Best Documentary - Ana Silva Gelinskas
• Best Trailer - Abdirahman Mahamud
• Best Concept Art - Safa Ramadan and Andrea Maly
• Best 2D Animation - Patrycja Lukaszewska
• Best 3D Animation - Patrycja Lukaszewska
• Best 2D Game - Tautvydas Marcinkevicius
• Best Interactive App - Omnya Wish
• Best Short Film - Bozhidar Gospodinov
• Best Film Composer - Vasili Achillea
• Best Sound for Film - Lisa Farrell-Tonge
• Best Producer - Ellis Bocking
• Best Photographer - Natasha Lynch and Fatima Nasin Sikder
• Best Ident - Nicholas Jennings
• Best Stop Motion Animation - Omnya Wish
• Best Music Video - Frankie Foster
• Best Professional Engagement - Tai-Jaun Akberali
• Best Motion Graphics - Tai-Jaun Akberali.

Media production Level 2 student Ana Carolina Silva Gelinskas returned to the college for the awards and was rewarded by winning the Best Documentary Award.  Having completed a degree in Brazil, Ana moved to England but had to work as a nanny for four years because her Brazilian degree is not recognised in the UK. Ana returned to education at CONEL in September 2018 and passed her course with us this year.

After retraining, Ana has now secured a full time job as a design assistant at the renowned Riverside Works, where she will help design high-quality awnings, blinds and curtains.

Ana said: “I think CONEL helped me with my confidence and my professional skills. They helped me know what I wanted to do.” 

If you want to become a CONEL student and be part of next year’s Media end of year show, your journey starts here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/creative-and-media.html

Level Three Public Services student Jan Kurt switched courses so he could follow his dream of going into policing.  Although he was very good at Engineering - his original choice, it just wasn’t what he thought it would be. Thankfully, the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) supported him as he transferred onto the Public Services course.

Jan said: “I came to CONEL from secondary school. My first course was engineering but my future aspiration has always been policing; I was even in the Police Cadets when I was younger. I was good at engineering and my lecturers were happy with my work, but I knew it wasn’t for me and I knew that I wanted to do something related to policing, so with guidance and advice from CONEL staff, I started the Public Services course.”

Jan values the fact that CONEL’s Public Services lecturers are, or have been, in the industry – either the military or policing – and have a whole wealth of experience and practical knowledge to pass on to their students.

“Studying Public Services gives you a better understanding of how the world works. You gain so much from the teachers who are all industry professionals. The lecturers’ experiences, what they know and have been through, teaches you so much more. You build such a special bond with your tutors at CONEL.

“One of our units is analysing why terrorist incidents are occurring, what the government are doing and what prevention measures are in place. We go into this in depth, including CCTV and police interceptors. It all helps us to understand why attacks happen and the short and long-term effects are. It’s so interesting.

“I feel much more committed to what I want to do - Policing. My lecturers have made me feel that if you go through the process and you fail there’s always a plan B, but if you don’t go through it, you’ll never know.

“My advice to other students is whatever the situation, whatever the state of your life, sit up straight, look around you. Understand what’s going on around you, what’s going on with yourself. Never give up. Mistakes are the way of learning. You fall down, get back up again and don’t stay down.”

Hear what else Jan had to say about life at CONEL below:

Studying Public Services at CONEL offers more than just a qualification. Students are exposed to events like Pan London, where this year almost 70 CONEL students on our Public Services and Media courses played a key role in the successful running and planning of the event. Its opportunities like this that helped CONEL gain a 94.6% student satisfaction rating and enabled 86.8% of our Public Services students to pass their exams.

Completing a Public services course at CONEL College could lead you to professions such as:

• Police Officer: Annual Pay £41,600
• Police Community Support Officer: Annual Pay £26,520
• Probation Services Officer: Annual Pay £29,120
• Ambulance Paramedic: Annual Pay £41,080
• Army Soldier: Annual Pay £18,125
• Army Officer: Non-graduate cadets: Annual Pay £26,000
• Merchant Navy Deck Officer: Annual Pay £26,000

The Public Services workforce is projected to grow by 6% over the next five years, creating 1,974,000 jobs. In the same period, 39.5% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 13,110,000 job openings. This is the average combined for all industries across the UK, showing it is a great time to get into the Public Services industry.

If like Jan you want to kick-start your career in Public Services, your journey starts here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/public-services.html

Caitlin Leal started out her post 16 education at sixth form but didn’t feel she was getting enough opportunity or support. When she found out that she could do a course on Early Years and Childcare at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, Caitlin moved to CONEL and has not looked back since.

It has been a perfect fit for Caitlin, not only has she had some dream placements, but she has also been offered a job as a Nursery Practitioner at a setting where she is currently on work experience.

“My Placement Officer has been really good at CONEL, she found places that really were of interest to me. I’ve now been offered a job too but I need to finish my course first. I’m doing my work placement there now, it’s a private nursery.  I’m so pleased – the thought of working as a Nursery Practitioner at the age of 19 is great, CONEL has really helped me achieve that.

Caitlin loves the independence and freedom of college life and now studying her Level Three, she believes she has found her dream course.

Caitlin said: “I started out doing health and social care in sixth form but it wasn’t really what I wanted to do so when I heard about this course at CONEL and that it was focused on early years in childcare, it was the perfect match for me.

“When I was at sixth form, they held me back and never pushed me. As soon as I came to CONEL they gave me a variety of options of where I could go as well as different job types I could get from a course like mine. It’s been really encouraging. It’s made me want to get my qualifications and get out there into the world of work. The teachers have been amazing. I’ve passed first time with every assignment in Level Two and I’m hoping to do the same with Level Three.

“I regret going to sixth form, I wish I’d come straight here. I feel like I wasted a year, I could have been further down the line by now. I was all confused in secondary school and sixth form but now I have plans, I have a job on hold and I am really enjoying my course. Sixth form can be really stressful and pressured. When you come to college, if you feel uncomfortable you have the freedom of choice, to change courses, do something else, this makes me feel more comfortable because it’s my personal choice.”

Job roles in the Childcare and early years market are projected grow by 6.4% over the period to 2024, creating 2,300 jobs. In the same period, 28.8% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 10,500 job openings.

If like Caitlin you want to kick-start your career in Early Years and Childcare then click here to apply now: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/early-years-and-childcare.html

Six years ago, Mehmet came to CONEL on an ESOL course to improve his English skills. Since then he has completed his GCSEs, a BTEC in Applied Science and has now progressed onto studying Mechanical Engineering at university.

It was a brave step for Mehmet leaving his home in Turkey and coming to the UK without knowing any English, but starting at CONEL made him immediately feel more confident, organised and supported. Mehmet loves studying in the UK as he can work part time. Back home part time work is very rare, so Mehmet truly feels he has the best of both worlds here in London.

Mehmet said: “The GCSE teachers at CONEL helped me a lot. The teachers were always there telling me I was going to pass, I didn’t think I would get good grades but I did and that was down to CONEL.  I won an award for getting a Grade 6 in my English and I was so pleased as English is not my first language. When I first came here I didn’t have any self-esteem but when I started at CONEL, I felt more confident. Teachers push and support you and encourage you to learn and study.

“It was a dream to come here from Turkey and study and experience the lifestyle. There are so many opportunities in London. It’s a completely different culture here in the UK, the education system is very different. I can work and study at the same time in London, but in Turkey you don’t have that choice because part time work is not really available. I’ve been able to earn money to cover my expenses and learn at the same time. I know there are a lot of benefits for older international students too at CONEL, the little things like free breakfasts really help. I’ve really made the most of what was on offer.

“I am now studying Mechanical Engineering at university, so I can be a design engineer designing places and buildings for a better future for all of us.”

Studying Science opens so many doors as it has done for Mehmet. Completing a science course or Apprenticeship at CONEL College could lead you to professions such as: (Annual pay)

• Biomedical Scientist: £43,160
• Laboratory Technician: £25,480
• Radiographer: £39,000
• Physiotherapist: £34,840
• Pharmacist: £41,080

If like Mehmet it is Engineering that you are more interested in and you successfully complete an engineering course at CONEL, you could land roles such as: (Annual pay)

• Mechanical Engineer: £39,000
• Electronics and Electrical Engineers: £32,240

If you would like to apply for any of our Science or Engineering courses here at CONEL, click below:

SCIENCE

ENGINEERING

Electrical Apprentice, Ellis Hamilton always knew he wanted a job that kept him on his feet and busy. Sitting down at a desk was never going to float his boat. Luckily the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London (CONEL) offered Ellis the opportunity of an electrical apprenticeship in construction. Ellis now spends four out of five days on site and one in college exploring the theory behind the trade. This is a good balance for Ellis who intends to work in the field to extend his knowledge and experience, then set up his own electrical business in the future.

Ellis is a great advocate for the apprenticeship scheme. He is currently coming to the end of his time at CONEL as an Electrical Apprentice and would thoroughly recommend both the College and his course.

Ellis said: “I would say that this college provides a lot of opportunities. I want to be a successful person, someone that’s in control of their own life, works for themselves and has their own company. I feel that this college with the education it provides helps you to do this.

“Growing up and sitting in a classroom at school, my attention span wasn’t very good, I’m much more hands on. I like to find out how things work, I like taking things apart and putting them back together. I have family members that are in the electrical professional and they recommended using these skills and transferring them into this field. As soon as I was on the construction site as an apprentice, I knew it was what I wanted to pursue. Electrical work can take you anywhere, it can take you around the world. The future is exciting.

“We have two teachers, one for theory and one for NVQ work. They talk to each other about the students and if one teacher can’t assist you in a particular area, the other one will step in. The teachers are ex-electricians, so they are all knowledgeable having been hands on. The library is very good too, they have all the electrical books I need for my work and the laptops are up to date. As a whole, the learning centre is very good.

“I would definitely recommend to start an apprenticeship as early as you can. It’s a very good scheme, you’re learning and earning and getting skills you need to take into the real world.”

Apprenticeships offer a variety of training opportunities at different levels of your career, whether you are just starting out or you are the director of your team, there are always opportunities. CONEL deliver their Apprenticeships through Capital City College Training, the training arm of Capital City College Group.

If you choose to study one of our construction or plumbing courses or Apprenticeships this could lead to a role such as: (Annual salary)
Plumber: £30,680
Carpenter: £30,680
Bricklayer: £27,040
Painter/Decorator: £25,480
Electrician: £31,200
Building Surveyor: £41,080

The UK workforce is projected to grow by 6% over the period to 2024, creating 1,974,000 jobs. In the same period, 39.5% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 13,110,000 job openings. Now is a great time to gain the skills you need to kickstart your career.

Come to CONEL, #YouHaveItInYou: https://www.conel.ac.uk/for-learners/how-to-apply/enrolment.html

Not feeling she was suitable for traditional A Levels, Kamaria Baker-Martin came to the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) to do a BTEC in Sports and Exercise Science. 

Kamaria wants to be a physiotherapist and for her, studying a BTEC at CONEL has many advantages. As Kamaria explained: I don’t enjoy exams, so I decided to do a BTEC because it’s coursework based. The physiotherapy courses that I have applied for at university are mainly coursework based too.”

As well as better preparing her for university, Kamaria loves the independence and freedom that the college offers over sixth form and she also enjoys the smaller class sizes and the amount of support that students receive at CONEL. She said: “The environment here is different to secondary school because we work more together, there is more help from staff and classes are smaller, this means we have more one to one support.

“My teachers picked up on my dyslexia and had me screened. This would never have happened at school. A lot of us at secondary school slipped through the net, meaning we didn’t get extra time in exams when we should have. I now get additional help here if ever I need it.

“We have to do lots of our research independently on this course which teaches us how to do this in preparation for university. My assignments are always on time and I get distinctions. I’m really happy here.”

In addition to amazing support in the classroom, there are also a number of extra-curriculum opportunities that CONEL offers.  The college has a number of sports academies who compete at a very high level and even offer opportunities to go on international trips like our recent undefeated football trip to Spain.

If like Kamaria you are considering a career in the sport and leisure sector, you are probably curious to know how much you’d earn in your dream job. Here’s a guide to how much you could be earning in the following roles:

• Health and Fitness Instructors: Hourly Pay £10.59, Weekly Pay £360, Annual Pay £18,720
• Sports Development Officer: Hourly Pay £11.25, Weekly Pay £405, Annual Pay £21,060
• Sports Coach: Hourly Pay £13.53, Weekly Pay £460, Annual Pay £23,920
• Leisure Centre Managers and Assistant: Hourly Pay £15.00, Weekly Pay £600, Annual Pay £31,200

To start your Journey now, apply here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/sport-fitness-and-active-leisure.html

Akilesh came to the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) after scouring local college websites on completing his GCSEs. He popped along to an open day and spoke to teachers in the engineering department who were extremely helpful.

Akilesh loves his Railway Engineering course and has already had practical experience out on the tracks. His class are a tight knit bunch who can have fun together but also take their work very seriously, he feels that his course has really opened doors for him.

Akilesh said: “It’s really good, it opens doors for the future. We learn a lot about metals, health and safety, electrical engineering, using saws and cutting metals themselves.  I worked on the track when I was doing a practical lesson, learning how to dig and take out the tracks. The tracks get too hot in the summer and deform, so you have to learn how to remove them.

“You still have to learn maths and science as it’s part of the engineering course, but it’s not those subjects on their own that you’re learning about, it’s how the maths and science connect with engineering and how relevant they are to it.”

CONEL runs acclaimed courses in Railway Engineering and Akilesh was very excited to jump on board. The training programmes are designed to give students everything they need to know, to get work in the rail industry.

Akilesh went on to say, “I think that people are here to learn. Sometimes in class you can go off topic but you have to make sure you bring yourself back. Everyone has fun at times but you have to be responsible.  When you work on the railway, you have to be on time, there are strict rules. It’s serious stuff. You have to be aware. Communication and connection with the people you work with is very important as it is a dangerous environment.

“The teachers are really kind here, I’m really happy I took the course, it was the right choice, I’m doing something good for my future. Engineering is needed all around the world, which means there are lots of opportunities in it.

“CONEL showed me that by doing something practical, it could open doors for me. Not everyone is right for university and coming here has shown me that.”

If you’d like to pursue a career in engineering, you’re probably wondering how much you can expect to earn. If you successfully complete an engineering course at CONEL, you could land roles such as:

• Mechanical Engineer: Annual Pay £39,000
• Electronics and Electrical Engineers: Annual Pay £32,240

Here are the top benefits of studying an engineering course at CONEL College:

• The progression to university from engineering courses is very strong.
• Our engineering courses offer constructive, supportive and timely feedback, which helps students improve quickly.
• Progress in workshops and classrooms shows most students will go on to achieve success in their preferred engineering career path.
• Students take pride in their work and become confident and self-assured as they learn.

We also offer Engineering Apprenticeships at CONEL. If you want to start earning and get qualified, an apprenticeship can offer you the best of both worlds. Apprenticeships offer a fantastic way to earn while you learn. You'll get a job with a salary while studying for a qualification and receive practical, on-the-job work experience at the same time.

Want to start your Engineering career path right? Your journey starts here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/engineering.html

Students at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) are celebrating another successful year of GCSE exam results.

This was the first year CONEL has used the new 9-1 grading system that replaced the old A*-G grades, with grades 9-4 recognised as high grades.

Many of those who took GCSE English and Maths exams also completed vocational courses this year while others are looking to study further at the College or go on to university.

Among this year’s top performers was Luotong Huang, 19 who achieved a grade 9 in GCSE Maths while also attaining an A grade in Core Maths, a Level 3 qualification equivalent to an AS Level.

Her teacher Mahdi Radmehr said: “Luotong was a committed, attentive and a very focused learner who always submitted the homework on time. She was also keen to do extra activities after completing the class work.”

Also among those students achieving high grades was Neville Palmer, 48, who gained a grade 8 in GCSE Maths and a grade 7 in GCSE English.

Akiva Kaufman, 22, attained a grade 8 in GCSE Maths and is now set to study an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Science.

He said: “I worked hard but I was nervous this morning. I thought the exam went pretty well and I was hoping for a good grade, but it’s nice to actually to get the result. I feel really good.”

Mehmet Alakirik, 20, gained a grade 6 in GCSE Maths and grade 4 in GCSE English, as well as a grade A in Core Maths and is now looking to complete an Accounting Professional Diploma Level 4.

He said: “It’s a wonderful feeling. I’ve have a few sleepless nights, particularly over this past week. It’s be a stressful year, the constant revision every night. I’m just glad it’s now over."

Mohamad Fadi Abou Swid, 18, attained a grade 6 in GCSE Maths and is going on to study for an Engineering Diploma Level 3.

“I was expecting a grade 5 to 7 so I’m really happy,” he said.

“Over the last week I was so nervous because the thought crossed my mind, what if I get a 4 or 5, but now I’m so grateful.

“We got all the help we need. Even at half-term we got extra lessons so we can improve our maths knowledge, which was really helpful.”

CONEL hairdressing tutor Denise Hall, 46, attained a grade 5 in English, which has enabled her to secure a place at university to study a degree Health and Social Care Management at London Metropolitan University.

She said: “I am very grateful and just relieved because I took my time and I didn’t finish the exam, but it’s still worked out in my favour.

“The teaching was superb. At one point I was doubting myself but the teachers were very willing and patient to make sure we reached our target.

“I now have a place at university. Everything is falling into place, and I am just so happy.”

CONEL saw outstanding maths results for adult students, those aged 19 or over, with 77% achieving high grades.

Interim Principal Kurt Hintz said: “I am very pleased to see another great set of GCSE results, particularly the high grades in GCSE Maths among our adult students.

“I would like to congratulate all of our students on their achievements and wish them every success in the future.”

Having not done as well as she wanted in her GCSEs, Victoria tried a couple of different options before finding her safe space at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

Now settled into life on her Applied Science Level 3 BTEC course, Victoria is working hard and loving the mature, diverse vibe in her class. For Victoria, CONEL really is a skills college that sets students up for university, work and the real world. She is currently looking into university courses on Criminology or Paramedic Science and is very excited about her future.

Victoria said: “My class is diverse and a good mix of male and female. I feel comfortable here, you meet a lot of different people with different backgrounds. I thought I might be the oldest because of having tried other things out before, but as I started, other people joined the course and many were older than me. We all get along no matter what our age or background.

“Before I got my GCSE results, I wanted to do Level Three Forensic Science, I got a conditional offer but didn’t get the results I needed. I thought no college would want me. However, at CONEL there are so many courses that will suit you even if you don’t get the grades. You can do a course on a level below your first choice which will give you the foundation to move forward as planned. You can still achieve what you want it might just take a little longer. There’s always hope if you work for it.”

Victoria loves the fact that CONEL is an easy commute for her from home and offers a welcoming, supportive learning space.

She went on to say: “CONEL is a skills college. It sets people up to go to university and onto work with the right skills. I want to go to uni to study Criminology or Paramedic Science. What I’m studying now is getting me ready for that. I know that I will have the knowledge and skill set to make it work in uni for me.”

Victoria’s top tip for other students is to go to the College open day or Enrolment and look at the subject areas they might be interested in, but also don’t be afraid to look at something new.

Completing a science course or apprenticeship at CONEL could lead you into a wide range of professions including: (Annual pay)

Biomedical Scientist: £43,680
Laboratory Technician: £25,480
Radiographer: £39,000
Physiotherapist: £34,840
Pharmacist: £41,080

The workforce in this sector is projected to grow by 3.9% over the next 5 years, creating 4,200 jobs. In the same period, it’s estimated that 23.2% of the workforce will retire, creating an additional 25,300 job openings.

If like Victoria you are looking for an alternative to A-Levels then click here to have a look at our amazing courses and enrol today.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 5.36 million people are employed in the public sector across the UK - accounting for 16.5% of all those in paid work. And with the government announcing more money for schools, the NHS and the police, it could be a great time to start your public services career.

Studying Public Services at CONEL offers more than just a qualification. Students visit public services workers in action and are exposed to events like Pan London, where this year almost 70 CONEL students on our Public Services and Media courses played a key role in the successful running and planning of this massive event. It’s opportunities like this that helped CONEL gain a 94.6% student satisfaction rating and enabled 86.8% of our Public Services students to pass their exams.

Mert Mustapha is just one of CONEL’s dedicated public services students and is on our Public Services Diploma Level 2 course.  “I chose to do a Public Services course because I’m interested in a uniformed career, such as a police officer. This type of job really sparked a call of duty in me. I want to make a difference and help the community.

“My friends recommended CONEL to me. I have really enjoyed my time here. It’s been fun and challenging and the time has flown by.  I’ve learnt how the uniformed services operate within our society, how they impact us, how they reduce crime and save lives. It’s like nothing else you can study.”

When asked what it is like studying at CONEL, Mert  said, “My teachers are vastly experienced and have been really supportive. They answer our questions and give real life examples of challenges they’ve faced in their careers and how to deal with different situations.

 “The course has also included trips to recreational activity centres and visits to police stations and courts, which give you the chance to ask questions to those working in these services. “I’ve improved my communication and teamwork skills, and best of all it’s given me a better understanding of life and prepared me for the real world.

“College life is really good. Everyone is friends with each other – there aren't any bad vibes. It’s been amazing so far, and I’m looking forward to progressing on to my third year at college.”

To hear more from another Public Services student, Jan Kurt, who was on our BTEC Level 3 extended diploma course last year, click the video below:

Completing a public services course at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) could lead you to professions such as:

• Police Officer: Annual Pay £41,600
• Police Community Support Officer: Annual Pay £26,520
• Probation Services Officer: Annual Pay £29,120
• Ambulance Paramedic: Annual Pay £41,080
• Army Soldier: Annual Pay £18,125
• Army Officer: Non-graduate cadets: Annual Pay £26,000
• Merchant Navy Deck Officer: Annual Pay £26,000

If you think that a career in public services could be for you, find out more here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/public-services.html

As students start enrolling at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) for the new academic year, we’re taking a look back in time to the early 1960s, when the Beatles had their first No.1 hit, London’s Centre Point was still a set of architect’s plans and Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister.

Andy Thomas, Richard Tresise and Ian Carpenter were teenagers in 1963 and studied for their GCEs at what was then Tottenham Technical College. They recently returned to our Tottenham Centre for the first time since they left, to reminisce on the past and see how the college has changed in the last 56 years.

There is a long tradition of technical education in the Tottenham and wider Haringey areas. Since its founding in 1897, the college has offered a wide range of relevant and practical courses, including Physiology and Hygiene, Science, Technology, Building Construction, Plumbing, Carpentry and Land Surveying.  With the success of such ‘multi-skill’ training, the college expanded to accommodate a large increase in admissions, to well over 100,000 students by the 1950s.

CONEL maintains this tradition of providing technical and skills education to the local area. One significant growth area is construction and its related trades – as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we anticipate an explosion in demand for construction skills, as many older UK-born construction workers retire and those from EU countries decide to return home. Today the college operates one of only seven Mayor’s Construction Academy Hubs, and currently has over 150 Apprentices in various construction specialities such as brickwork, carpentry and joinery, construction, electrical instillation and plumbing.

During their visit to the college, Andy, Richard and Ian met Interim Principal, Kurt Hintz and Director, Marcia Summers, and had a tour of CONEL’s modern facilities. Reminiscing on the Old days, Andy said, “The college gave us skills that helped us with our careers as well as at home. Doing the multi-skills course meant I could do the painting and decorating, build a wall and do general DIY around the house.”

Their time at the college set them up for their lives, with Andy and Richard both going on to work in insurance and Ian Carpenter in trade.  And Ian discovered that his relationship with the college extends even further, when he found out that his granddad had been the caretaker over 100 years ago.

To this day, CONEL provides its students with more than just a qualification: we understand the importance of transferrable skills such as good communication, team work and leadership when in work, especially as research suggests that millennials entering the job market will have an average of 10-12 jobs in their life and will therefore have to be more flexible than ever to adapt to changes in the job market.

This was backed up recently by our progression and destinations report, which showed that of the 7,045 CONEL learners, 96% progressed to a ‘positive destination’, meaning they either sustained employment and/or entered further learning. This is a 7% increase based on the 16/17 academic year.

It is key to have these qualities and to stand out when applying for work. We pride ourselves on our philosophy of helping develop well-rounded people, as demonstrated in the breadth and depth of our courses offered: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses.html

The engineering sector plays a vital role in the UK’s economy. According to Engineering UK, the sector generated 25% of the UK’s total GDP in 2015, and it is forecast to contribute £241 billion to UK GDP by 2020 and to create 157,000 new jobs.

There are a wide range of jobs in the engineering industry and a recognised qualification will help you forge a career in some of today’s most exciting and dynamic industries. Whether your chosen field is mechanical, chemical, civil or electrical - or even rail engineering – on your course at CONEL, you’ll gain the skills and work experience you need for a career in the field of your choice. As well as learning the important theory in the classroom, you’ll plan, design and build machines, systems and processes to solve technical problems.

As rail engineering student Akilesh told us: “It’s really good, it opens doors for the future. We learn a lot about metals, health and safety, electrical engineering, using saws and cutting metals themselves.  I worked on the track when I was doing a practical lesson, learning how to dig and take out the tracks. You still have to learn maths and science as it’s part of the engineering course, but it’s not those subjects on their own that you’re learning about, it’s how the maths and science connect with engineering and how relevant they are to it.”

Our engineering courses are among the best in the country. 92.4% of our engineering students passed their exams and many excelled on work placements in industry, progressing to university and realising their career aspirations. Our courses enable you to progress from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3.

To hear more of what Akilesh said about his course, as well as hearing from Natalia – another engineering student – click below:

1) Akilesh Parlakee

2) Natalia Morar

If you’d like to pursue a career in engineering, you’re probably wondering how much you can expect to earn. If you successfully complete an engineering course or apprenticeship at CONEL, you could land roles such as (annual pay):

• Mechanical Engineer: £39,000
• Electronics and Electrical Engineers: £32,240
• Engineering Technician: £39,900
• Civil Engineer: £45,760
• Aircraft pilots and flight engineer: £112,840

If you are interested in studying an engineering course at CONEL:

Choose one here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/courses/engineering.html

And choose an enrolment date here: https://www.conel.ac.uk/for-learners/how-to-apply/enrolment.html

Newly enrolled students attended the first of two Freshers’ Fairs at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London’s (CONEL) Enfield Centre on Wednesday 11 September 2019.

The event had a variety of different information stalls, showing the opportunities - both inside and outside the college - that students can enjoy in the coming year of study. The Sports department were showcasing their Football, Basketball and Mixed Martial Arts academies, the Careers Services team explained the services they offer, the Student Ambassadors team were recruiting and the new CONEL E-SPORTS group displayed their games and schedules.

We also had companies and local organisations in attendance, including: Bywaters, Enfield's local youth centres, Project Rugby, Middlesex FA, Chance to Shine [Free street cricket], Citizens Advice (Enfield), HSBC, Healthwatch (Enfield), NHS Lets Talk, and Speak like a Native.  The Middlesex FA ran a competition in which participants guessed the number of chocolate footballs in the trophy.

Winning student, Abed Elkurdi, from West Lea School, a special educational needs school which works in partnership with CONEL, was very pleased to win the 161 chocolate footballs. He said, “I am going to share them all with my friends.”

Sports Development Co-ordinator, Robert Murphy, said, “The Fresher’s Fair is a great opportunity for us to let the students know about all the amazing sports and enrichment opportunities we offer at the college. We also had competitions going on in standing long jump, sit and reach flexibility test and a grip strength test for which the prize was a week’s gym membership at the college. It was great fun.”

Khaled Ahmed, from Middlesex cricket, said, “It has been great to be here today and recruit so many students. We have been promoting our new Free Street Cricket - it's a fast-paced version of the game played with a tapeball - a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape - in small enclosed spaces. With six players per team and 20 balls per innings, it’s cricket’s answer to five-a-side football!  We will be at CONEL’s Enfield centre from 6pm-8pm every term time Monday in sports hall. ”

If you are a CONEL student but couldn't make it to this event, don’t worry! We are running a similar Fresher’s Fair at our Tottenham Centre next week, Wednesday 18 September. To attend, you must be a CONEL student, if you haven’t already, ENROL HERE.

If your organisation would like to attend an event or support students at CONEL call 020 8442 3055.

When Safa Radwan completed her GCSEs, she wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. Safa loved animation and when she saw the Animation and Games Design course at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London (CONEL), she knew she had to apply.

On the course, Safa gets to make both 2D and 3D games and can immerse herself in all aspects of animation and concept art. Safa and her fellow students recently spent some time in a professional animation studio which really opened their eyes to the work that they could do in this rapidly developing area in the future. As a woman in what is still a predominantly male industry, Safa stands out a bit, but that’s OK. She says, “Our class is quite male dominated, but I’m not put off by this. It’s a very friendly and welcoming environment.”

Safa is enjoying the step-up in responsibility – and the extra maturity that goes with it – from life at CONEL. “College is different to school; you are given a lot more freedom and can have a lot more fun with that freedom. You can do projects in different ways and even though you’re studying the same course, you get so many different results. This college brings in a lot of people from varied backgrounds with different thoughts and ideas. It’s such a great learning environment. “Recently I won an excellence award and my parents came as well as my classmates. It was a great celebration of our efforts; I was very proud.

There are opportunities outside the classroom too. Safa says: “We go on a lot of trips on our course. Recently we spent time in a professional animation studio. We got to talk to real professionals in the industry, it was fun and exciting. It really stuck with me, I knew more about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go after that trip.”

Nationally, the creative and media workforce is projected to grow by 4.2% between now and 2024, creating 3,900 jobs. In the same period, almost a third of the workforce is projected to retire, creating an additional 29,500 job openings. So now is the right time to gain the skills needed to get into this exciting industry. CONEL offers a number of Creative and Media courses at both their Tottenham and Enfield centres. Studying a Creative Media course or an Apprenticeship at CONEL could result in one of the following jobs: (Annual pay)

-Music Promotions Manager: £33,800
-Computer Games Developer: £33,800
-Animator: £29,640
-Studio Sound Engineer: £26,000
-Web Designer: £30,680

If like Safa you would like to get your career off to the best possible start, come to CONEL: https://www.conel.ac.uk/for-learners/how-to-apply/enrolment.html

Despite the sad end of Thomas Cook this week, the travel and tourism industries are still strong. Almost 38 million tourist visits were made to the UK from overseas in 2018 and with massive – and still growing – Chinese and Indian middle classes eager to see the world, the travel and tourism sectors will continue to be worth working in.

One student entering this exciting industry is Stephanie Badoy. Focused on a career path in aviation either as ground or cabin crew, she found her dream course (Travel and Tourism Level Three) at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

An international student from the Philippines, Stephanie has always wanted to be cabin crew or work in an airport, so she searched high and low to find the perfect course to enable her to do this and was thrilled to be accepted onto the Travel and Tourism course at CONEL. It was a challenging start as Stephanie was very nervous, but thanks to the supportive atmosphere at the college, Stephanie made friends quickly and soon relaxed into her course.

Stephanie said, “I found it harder to start with, the teachers helped by explaining things to me. As an international student, at first I was very nervous but then when I got to know my classmates it was easier.

“The best thing about my course is studying. Every day I look forward to the new topics we will discuss. The course has helped me to know about the industry. I am learning about customer service and communications skills. The teachers are very supportive.

“CONEL is better than my other school in the Philippines. In my other school we didn’t really have lots of computers, it was limited but here there are so many. This helps me complete my tasks quickly.”

If, like Stephanie, you are interested in working in the Travel and Tourism industry, you are probably wondering how much you can earn. Completing one of our travel and tourism courses could lead to a job in the following professions: (Annual pay)

• Air Traffic Control: £79,560
• Airline Customer Service Agent: £31,720
• Airport Baggage Handler: £27,560
• Airport Information Assistant: £25,480
• Travel Agent: £22,880

The workforce is projected to grow by 0.5% over the period to 2024, creating 200 jobs. In the same period, 35.1% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 16,500 job openings making it a great time to study a Travel and Tourism course here at CONEL: ENROL NOW

A new ESF and London Growth Hub initiative, Start Up, Step Up London launched on Wednesday 18 September 2019, to help open pathways and support enterprise skills for Londoners currently underrepresented in entrepreneurship.

Delivered by Visionnaires, part of Capital City College Group, the pioneering programme will give participants access to workshops, targeted skills training, coaching and mentoring.

Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal said: “I know first-hand the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives. But we need to do more to ensure that Londoners – and especially women – from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity and the know-how to start and grow a business. Step Up, Start Up can make a huge impact, and I’m proud we’re launching it today.”

Start Up, Step Up London is part of the Mayor of London’s commitment to improving diversity and representation in London’s entrepreneurship and follows extensive consultation held by the London Growth Hub over the last 18 months.

It is built directly on the recommendations of current and budding entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds not traditionally represented in start up businesses, including women, people with disabilities and from BAME, and low income backgrounds.

Jackie Chapman, Operations Director at Capital City College Group, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to change the face of entrepreneurship in London and harness the talent of London’s next wave of budding business leaders. We are delighted to be working with the London Growth Hub to deliver this exciting initiative.”

The new programme will help create a new generation of entrepreneurs and businesses through two streams – ‘Start Up’ and ‘Step Up’.

‘Start Up’ participants will receive training, access to co-working spaces and support from an entrepreneurial mentor to inspire and advise on challenges and solutions when launching a new business.

‘Step Up’ will work with small businesses to identify gaps in their skills base, with team members then being upskilled through tailored support such as training and qualifications, along with support from a dedicated business coach.  Step Up has a particular focus on supporting women.

To find out more about the programme and register your interest, visit the London Growth Hub: https://www.growthhub.london/susul/

Start Up, Step Up London is presented by the London Growth Hub and the European Social Fund.

The London Growth Hub is an initiative of LEAP, London's local enterprise partnership and is supported by the Mayor of London and HM Government.

Following a successful bid at the end of 2018, The College of Haringey, Enfield, and North East London (CONEL) was awarded £150,000 from the Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund. Over the next three years, CONEL will be using this money to invest in a range of initiatives that will support over 700 vulnerable teenagers across six London boroughs who are at risk of falling into a life of crime.

We spoke to the CONEL staff who are leading this programme, about their work and the difference that it is already making to the lives of the young people involved.

The programme is currently working with a total of 240 young people aged between 14 and 21 years old. Through the programme, our aim is to provide education, support and activities for participants that will deter them from getting involved in criminal activities and help them to make better life choices.

Six London boroughs refer people to the programme: Haringey, Enfield, Barnet, Islington, Camden and Waltham Forest. “The young people who are on the programme have been identified as ‘at risk’”, explains Jonathan Silman (Head of School for Key Stage 4 at CONEL). “This means that most of them have been repeatedly suspended, or even expelled, from secondary school. Many have experienced things that no child should have to see – they need support and a safe space, as well as an education.

“Many of the males and females on the programme (the gender mix is approximately 50:50) have experienced a traumatic incident or incidents, such as seeing a friend stabbed or killed, or they live in abusive or dysfunctional households – maybe with no parents or a single parent who is finding it hard to cope.” Jonathan Silman continues. In addition, many of them have been involved in gang activity and some have been forced to work in ‘county lines’ drug dealing operations, where gangs and organised crime networks exploit children to sell drugs.

Because the young people’s needs vary by their age and ability, there are two parts to the programme: one that works with 14-16 year olds and the other that supports 16-21 year olds.

Support for 14-16 year olds

For the 90 14-16 year olds (Key Stage 4), there are two pathways in the programme – both of which provide full-time education and support to the students:

• The GCSE pathway, where the main objective is to enable students to take 5 GCSEs and achieve grades 5-9 in those subjects – setting them up for taking A levels, or progressing into work, an apprenticeship or study a vocational course like a BTEC or NVQ (National Vocational Qualification). The students take lessons in the core GCSE subjects including English and maths, as well as Level 1 vocational qualifications in sport, construction and hair & beauty.
• The Functional Skills pathway, which is for students who need more support – here the objective is for participants to improve their basic English and maths skills to a level where they can take some functional skills exams or enrol at a Further Education college, like CONEL. Subjects taken can include English, maths, catering, music, sport, construction and hair & beauty at Level 1.

Mental health support

Many of the programme’s participants are also living with mental health problems as a result of the traumatic things they have experienced in their young lives, so it’s vital that the programme can help students address these issues too. As Jonathan Silman explains: “Mental ill-health is a massive issue in the UK, but especially among less well-off young Londoners. Funding for children’s mental health services has been cut across London and waiting lists for accessing the specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services that they need, can, in some cases be over a year.

“In the meantime, we need to help the teenagers on our programme start to understand, process and come to terms with their experiences, so we have brought in a Psychotherapist who is working with the 14-16 year olds initially to support them. She has been talking to the teenagers, assessing the nature of their trauma, and grades their skills (how good they are at listening, speaking, reading and writing), to see if they are suitable for the GCSE pathway or the Functional Skills one.

“We’re already seeing a big difference on the teenagers’ engagement and attainment. The psychotherapy is working and the students are receptive to the support they are getting from CONEL. For many, it’s the first time that someone has really tried to understand what they’ve been through.”

Support for older students

The other strand of the programme is supporting 150 16-21 year olds. Typically they are students of the college on other courses, but they may be struggling with their studies and have been referred onto the programme by their tutors.

These students attend six weeks of one-hour group mentoring to help motivate them and help them stay on track with their studies. It also aims to deter students from getting involved in criminal activities by showing them the likely outcomes of doing so.

As Anthony Robinson (CONEL’s Head of Learner Experience and Industry Placements) explains: “A lot of the students on this programme have made bad life choices in the past and we want them to have opportunities to step off that path. The mentoring sessions are really useful for the students. Different sessions address different aspects including peer pressure – the role of the students’ friends and peers in pressuring them to act in certain ways – the importance of having an education on their life chances. It’s all about getting the students more engaged and motivated with their courses and reduce their risk level of getting into criminal activity.”

So far, 184 students have now completed the mentoring programme. Student Eraycan Karaks, said, “It was enjoyable, it teaches you a lot about not getting involved with gangs. It has shown me what will happen to me if I join a gang or follow people I think are my friends.”

The programme’s mentors are Royston Johns and Nyki Clark, vastly experienced mentors with over 30 years’ experience of working with young people from challenging backgrounds. They are experts on gang intervention and motivating young people to change their lives around.

In addition, students have heard from inspiring speakers from similar backgrounds to their own, including Amani Simpson, who was stabbed seven times in 2011 and who now speaks to young people about his experiences before and after the attack.

The scourge of knife crime

Knife crime is a huge concern for young Londoners and many of the students on our programme have experienced this too. So, we’ve been running engaging knife crime events which offer an environment for students and staff to discuss and learn about the issues. Public Services BTEC Level 3 student Syed Salam, was on the programme and attended one of these events. He said, “This was an excellent event for us to hear about the effects of knife-crime on families and the wider community. Hearing from various organisations that are involved in tackling knife crime at a grassroots level was good, as I now know what they are doing, and how I can get involved in helping to reduce knife crime in my community.”

Anthony Robinson said, “We aim to expand our mentoring programme to help more young people and put on a range of different events and workshops that tackle the issues young people face and keep them away from crime.”