By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 13:44, Monday, 14 January 2013

Teenagers in Carlisle will be given an extra boost to help them plan their futures.

Carrie Pollock

The city’s Youth Zone is preparing to launch a drop-in session, aimed at young people aged 13 to 21, which will cover everything from benefits advice to CV workshops.

Carrie Pollock, a youth worker, said the clinic is the latest arm of the youth club’s work, money, futures programme.

“We want to try to improve outcomes for young people,” she said. “The idea will be that there will always be a youth worker on site for sessions once a week.

“Young people can pick their brains for advice, or the worker will be able to offer support and help looking for jobs.”

Carrie said they were launching the initiative because they knew schools didn’t have the time or resources to offer such a scheme themselves.

“They have targets to meet,” she said. “We are fortunate in that we have young people who come to us because they want to – not because they have to.”

A work, money, futures programme began last year and an apprenticeship tester day, held at Carlisle Youth Zone in the October half-term, was so successful another event is already in the pipeline for 2013.

Carrie said: “In the past Connexions have done something similar and given advice and careers guidance. Because their remit is changing, we want to do something more for our members.”

An exact date for launch has yet to be confirmed, but Carrie hopes it will be within the next few weeks. The sessions will then run from 3.30pm to 5pm every Tuesday.

First published at 13:42, Monday, 14 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk