11 September 2012
Call for Northumberland families and businesses to help young people
A youth enterprise organisation is calling for local families and businesses to help provide a welcome to young people from rural Scandinavia as part of an exciting exchange visit between Northumberland and a similar rural area in Sweden.
The initiative comes from Young Northumberland, which was started by Northumberland Uplands LEADER Local Action Group to work with young people to break the barriers to employment and build enterprise skills.
The exchange is just one of a series of projects being organised by Young Northumberland in response to needs recognised by Northumberland National Park Authority and the NU Leader LAG to develop opportunities for young people to live, work and become involved in the countryside and rural life.
Work exchange in Sweden
Their first project has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm by those aged 18-25. No wonder since it involves a unique opportunity to develop enterprise skills by working with a group of likeminded young people from Sweden. Young Northumberland will be sorting through the applications to select just 6 young people from the Northumberland Uplands for the first trip this autumn.
The first of a series of exchanges, this exciting opportunity includes a two-part residential course held in the Northumberland Uplands, and Sweden, plus study visits and work placements in the country being visited.
Jen, Youth Engagement Officer from Young Northumberland said: “We have a great working relationship with Leader Linne in Sweden and together we are making the most of the similar rural situations and the experiences of our young people. There will be a total of three exchanges; the first of these will take place in October. A further two will take place in the spring and summer next year. For each exchange there will be a total of 6 candidates from the Northumberland Uplands and 6 candidates from Sweden.”
Jane, Youth Engagement Officer from Young Northumberland said: “We want our 6 Swedish guests to experience full Northumberland Uplands life and mirror the hospitality we will experience in Sweden. So we are seeking host families for a week from Friday 12th October to Friday 19th October and local rural businesses for a weeks work placement from Monday 15th October to Friday 19th October.”
This is an excellent networking opportunity for all involved and is a chance to make a real difference to rural young people from both the Northumberland Uplands and Sweden. Young people from Northumberland Uplands will get to experience rural Sweden too.
Interested families or businesses should get in touch with Jane Riddell and Jennifer Hewitson on Tel: 01669 622075 email: youth@nuleader.eu
