TRAC 11-24 supported young people aged 11-24 who were disengaging from education and at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training). The project was ESF funded for 7 years up to December 2022.
TRAC teams were based locally throughout North Wales and provided a range of personalised support to help young people. This included help to:
- gain confidence
- improve mental health and well-being
- get a qualification
- apply for a course at either college or university
- apply for an apprenticeship
- get a job
Who was TRAC for?
The young people that were eligible for the project were identified though a learner profile tool that was run through schools and colleges. The tool used data such as the young person's behaviour, attainment and attendance, to generate a score that told us if they would be eligible for the project. The young person was then referred through their school or college.
What did TRAC offer?
Young people on the TRAC programme had access to:
- counselling, provided by counsellors and mental health workers
- well-being and attendance support, provided by Educational Support Workers, Well-being Workers, Attendance Support Officers, and youth workers, as well as one-to-one sessions, sport and health focus, and education support and development.
- training and engagement courses from a wide variety of providers
- Careers Wales services, including Activate, individual and group sessions, and tailored work experiences.
The young people who took part benefitted from health and wellbeing support which helped to support their continued engagement in education. TRAC gave them access to an alternative curriculum which allowed them to undertake accredited qualifications linked to local labour market opportunities and also improved their attainment.
Success stories
TRAC saw many excellent outcomes including:
- Work placements leading to offers of apprenticeships or permanent roles.
- Colleges offering unconditional places.
- Improved well-being.
- Qualifications in a variety of fields.
- Hundreds of young people developing new skills to help shape their future.
- Stronger family relationships and many new found friendships and connections.
To see some of TRAC’s success stories, take a look at the video case studies on the TRAC YouTube channel (external website).
Who was involved in the project?
TRAC was led by Denbighshire County Council, working in partnership with:
Funding
TRAC 11-24 was an EU funded project, receiving support from ESF Priority Axis 3: Youth Employment and Attainment; Specific Objective 2 (reducing the number of young people aged 11-24 at highest risk of becoming NEET (Not in education, employment, or training)) in North Wales.
- Project Period: July 2015 to December 2022
- Funding: £37m of which £23m was provided by ESF/Structural Funds
- Target young people supported: 11,109
- Actual Young People supported 11,033, of which:
- 1,891 gained qualifications
- 1,045 went into further education/training
- 4,579 reduced the risk of becoming NEET