Top advice for 14-19-year-olds

4:26pm Monday 14th January 2008

THE New Year is often a time when young people in Somerset consider their next step - be it a job, training, college or sixth form - or have second thoughts about the path they've chosen.

But the advice being given to them is: "Don't panic - many options are still open and help has never been easier to access."

Today young people can take advantage of a comprehensive new website which, for the first time, gives instant access to the range of school, college and training courses available to them across the whole of Somerset.

"Moving On Moving Up" is Somerset's Area Prospectus, aimed at all young people in Somerset aged between 14 and 19.

It is a joint undertaking between Connexions Somerset, the Learning and Skills Council, Somerset County Council, schools, colleges and training providers.

Area Prospectus project manager Mark Morris said: "January is a time when people reflect and plan for the year ahead and anyone considering a course or qualification can log on to www.movingonmovingup.co.uk for details of courses available to 14-19-year-olds across Somerset."

Browsing the Area Prospectus website will give young people a chance to discover what schools, sixth forms, colleges and training providers in the county have to offer, where courses are available and how to access them.

Employers too are being advised to consider January as a good time to consider recruiting new young staff.

Mark Morris added: "There could well be a significant number of young people looking to take another path in their search for that ideal career. Employers often believe, mistakenly, that the end of the academic year is the only time when young people come on to the jobs market.

"But there could be a significant pool of enthusiastic young people looking for a change and available now."