Eddie Niles - Hustle Bucks

I enjoyed the whole experience by the hosts [Kids & Co], and meeting with other like-minded professionals. For me, this exchange programme will assist me in the work I do with Hustle Bucks in London by putting the work in context through helping to engage more effectively with the young people on an entrepreneur basis. I also realized that they were future opportunities to replicate what we do in other European partner countries and am going back to London to brainstorm future possibilities.

Wage Williams - 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning

It was great to gain an understanding of how our skills in the UK can be utilized by our European counterparts and also exploring areas in franchising, consultancy and general social enterprise growth.

Lucy Davis - 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning

Meetings with other European partners went very well, discussions were very informative and there were areas of future collaboration identified. In my opinion, we would like to continue our involvement in the project through young exchanges and also explore how individual partner ideas can be replicated in different countries.

Mary Richard-Paul - Youth Aid

The April Vet Pro SKills Exchange programme to Berlin, Germany was an amazing experience. It was a great opportunity to learn and understand how professionals in germany work with, encourage and support the young people in Germany. Before going on the trip, I was keen to see mainly the difference between England and Germany in their social welfare system for young people. As a social worker myself who works with young people on a day to day basis, I was interested to whether Germany were tackling similar issues in terms of welfare for young people such as gang culture, youth violence, young people who are NEETS, youth unemployment and so on. I was also interested to gather and exchange information and ideas of best practice with other professionals in Germany who work with young people.

Not only did the exchange programme meet my expectations, but it exceeded them all. I was able to visit several organisations that worked with young people in diverse ways to support them and provide opportunities for them to better their life chances. Companies such as KOSH automobiles and QEU university were amongst these. Through these experience we were able to unserstand Germany's drive towards keeping youth unemployment low especially through the area of apprenticeships and the prominent value placed on them.We also had the privilege of having a talk with the Hellesdorf town mayor who gave us a brief overview of the five year plan to eliminate youth unemployment in his town. Although seeming highly ambitious, the details of his plan and certain skills involved in this seemed executable and transferrable to other institutions and countries.
The trip also provided an opportunity to see and find out about a different country, city, culture, social norms and so on. As a person who seldom travels out of England, this made me question and also appreciate systems and life in other countries as well as my own. It broadened my awareness of the vast opportunities the world has to offer and this is one of the key things that I now express to the young people I work with and come across.

I would like to thank all at the wonderful Kids and Co Hellesdorf for a wonderful stay, everyone was so welcoming and accomodating from the professionals to even the students who helped us when we were unable to translate some English words to German. I would also like to appreciate all at Embrace who provided and organised this fantastic initiative. It was a brilliant way not only to learn from professionals in Germany but also to learn from professionals in other parts of England, as we were eight in a group from different professions in different parts of England. It was a double whammy! I am so glad I was opportuned to go on this trip and I would most definitely recommend it to all professionals with relevant interest.

Brenton Smith - Community Engagement

The orientation session from the host organisation was very helpful and grounded us with a strong perspective on who Kids & Co are and what they are all about. The mayor of Hellersdorf’s commitment to zero unemployment for young people by 2016 was very inspirational and the pace at which he is delivering this vision seemed very incisive and very exciting. Definitely something worth exploring in the UK as a pilot project at grass root level in socially disadvantaged areas.

 In my opinion, the dual education system adopted in Hellersdorf is very efficient and lends itself to attaining full employment growth for young people. I believe it’s a system that could also be adopted in the UK especially in the current economic climate.

Paul Gordon - GPPA-G Business Network

It was great to learn about our host’s overall vision for Hellersdorf both on a national and international level. Fantastic to hear from the Mayor of Hellersdorf and his commitment to eradicate youth unemployment by 2016. Something worth considering in the UK to adopt Hellersdorf’s model especially focusing on the entrepreneur side of developing young people into business establishment. It was also great and insightful to learn about how Koch manages their recruitment process. It’s a model I will explore further into our business development for young people.

 Lots of positive ideas learnt and shared and will definitely have a better view on growth and better recruitment strategies for growth. Have also benefited in having a better understanding and importance of good apprenticeships and training, while not throwing away good working practice in the medium and long term.

Mary Richard-Paul - Youth Aid

The introduction to the Germany education system was especially interesting as we could clearly how it operates and identify similarities with the UK education system. The visits to the college and overall presentation were insightful and sparked off some interesting debates amoungst the group. The car enterprise was also encouraging to see that such a large organisation was interested and concerned with young people and their community.

Among the important things gained in the whole experience was getting to know a different education system which places much emphasis and resources on the young people both in theory and practice. This goes to prove why the unemployment is very low

in Germany. Whilst there is much bureaucracy in the english education system, heir seems to be less of this kind in Germany which I believe is a model that could be adopted in the UK education system. On the other hand, I would have loved to know more about how the social services system supports young people in schools especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and others with challenging behaviors.

Angels Jones - Burnley College

Great to know how the vocational system works, the buy-in of all employers, the role and significance the job centre plays in the local communities and interventions from year 8 to make career choices. I look forward to implementing what my colleagues and I have learnt to work on forming a local, strong alliance with employers and try to adopt Hellersdorf’s model of best practice in Burnley, which will raise the value, and reputation of apprenticeships. I also hope to discuss the possibility of introducing a shared ‘job shop’ between QEU and Burnley College at the ‘Instructor and Manager level’.

Paul Stackhouse - Burnley College

It was excellent to view in the workings of a private training provider in Germany and also interesting to understand the importance employers pay to the vocational training programme as well as hearing the role the job centre plays in the Germany education system. It was also great to visit and speak with the mayor of Hellersdorf and interesting to listen to the state’s view on reducing young unemployment. On a personal note, the experiences and knowledge gained gave me an insight to the value employers put into the apprenticeship programme, a better understanding of the Germany education system, the value education providers pay towards the Leonardo Exchange Programmes as well as the equal parity for apprentices and ‘A’ level learner financial support. The intention of this visit along with my colleagues from Burnley College will be to present our findings from the study trip and to look at adopting some of the Germany strategy on apprenticeship within our own delivery model.

Augustine John -Global Developments Strategy

The Exchange programme enabled me to identify and explore the commonalities and challenges involved in working with young people in different country settings. The Host accommodation was conducive to self-analysis and the interactive exploration of various training approaches to facilitate young people’s personal development and experiential learning. The interactive learning with staff and volunteers of Kids & Co was very productive and instructive to experience how Kids & Co work with young people in helping them develop their leadership skills. Some of the most important experiences and knowledge gained were the comparative approaches (theoretical and practice based) to intervention in respect to common challenges facing young people and, how difficult it is to motivate young people who are ‘defeated’ by unemployment, low aspirations and lack of opportunities. If there was any further suggestions to complement what Embrace and its partner organisation do, could be an establishment of clear outlines of what the running order and intended learning outcomes would be for each programme. As well as a virtual network where people could share thinking, raise issues, and work together on building new paradigms and new approaches of intervention with young people.

Mark Lister

Hello my name is Mark Lister and I work for Embrace North as a Site Supervisor. My role at Embrace North entails the general maintenance of the premises which includes the building, contents and its surrounding grounds.

Upon hearing about the professional exchange to Berlin with Kids & Co I was very interested in participating in the observations of the local culture and day to day management of the workshop facilities. This exchange trip allowed me to gain a further understanding of facility layouts and also gave me inspiration towards setting up a fantastic learning environment for our students back in Burnley. I am passionate about helping the youth find their role in life and passionate about providing a facility which allows young people to try vocational trades through workshops and work placements.

This trip has been life changing and has inspired me to return to Embrace North and my local community with new ideas and a fresh confident new approach.

Marie Perryman Goins - Communities Empowerment Network

A jam packed week and we are only half way through... I am so inspired.
Learning about the German school system and understanding how to make a targeted youth project successful is amazing. what an opportunity!!!!

Okay, so we know that Germans don't exclude as a rule, or at least not in Berlin (except in extreme cases where it is detrimental to the safety or protection of others, and even the it is not permanent). So how does their system work? how do they enforce discipline? and what measures are put in place to ensure that the needs of the school children are met?
The first thing i understand is that in Germany it is virtually impossible to get a job without qualifications of some sort. so for this reason education is vital to survival in this country.
Secondly practical and life experience are very important and so vocational training and access to work-placements is supported and appears to be the main focus of many of the projects we have visited in Germany.

Thirdly there is an understanding of the cost that unqualified people cost society in the long run, and so early intervention is seen as a key way to ensure that people are qualified and or able to contribute to the economy.

The people here are very friendly and willing to answer questions and offer support.
I have seen a lot of scope for the development of the projects and organisations I run and work for based on some of the concepts I have seen here, such as social workers on site in schools and projects, and creating more opportunities for vocational training. I can also see how much great work is also already being done in the UK. I see how blessed I am to work in London with such diversity, where cultural difference is acknowledged and provisions are put in place to support those from different ethnic backgrounds. For example having staff that is culturally representative of its client group. Staff are key to the success of projects and being privileged enough to take part in this exchange I realise that both the UK and German projects are only able to deliver such great services because they have such great staff who are passionate, dedicated and able to understand and relate to the young people they work on behalf of.

I see now to make an impact it is important to think bigger. Small changes lead to big ones and for improvements to be made its time to think about the HUGE changes that i want to see and doing the little things that will make them happen.

Sarah Ozigi - Communities Empowerment Network

My name is Sarah Ozigi and I work as mentor for young pupils who have behavior problems.
The reason I took part in the exchange programme is because I wanted to know how the educational system is structured and how they deal with pupils with behaviors problems.
On my first day I was really surprised to see how clean and tidy Germany is despite the fact that the area we were in is classed as a deprived area. I was speechless when I was introduced to Kids and Co and saw the ways in which they helped prepare young people for work with vocational training.

I was very inspired when i got to Kids and Co & saw the work they are doing in regards to young people who don’t want to go to school. I noticed that German educational system is focused mainly on getting good qualification to enable young people to work and have various vocational skills to enable them to strive and be successful.

The first day was exciting for me as I was able to observe and take in the culture of Germany. At the same time I was shocked because of my perceived ideas of Hitler and Nazis. The people were friendly, and this changed all my negative views as I thought I would be coming into a country that was not welcoming of other cultures.

This exchange program has really been useful to me in a sense that I have learned a lot about the structure of German educational system and have been able to compare it to the UK educational system and have seen the difference in services that are available for young people who refuse to go to school. I noticed that if young people don’t like reading and writing they are able to do vocational programs but they still have to do theory as well as practical. I also learned that pupils are not excluded from school.

I found out that children in Germany start school at 6 and young people do placement on weekend which is not done in the UK. In the youth centres there are attached social workers that work alongside teachers and young people. This I believe is much needed in the UK and should start to be set up as it may have an impact on school exclusion. I learnt that despite the fact that young people have disruptive behavior they could be sent home but i also learned that German teachers were not given the support to manage young pupils who are disruptive in class which is the same as teachers in the UK.

I have learnt that Germany take education seriously and strive to push their pupils to gain qualifications and use different strategies around it like vocational programs. I also acknowledge that in Germany if you do not have a qualification you cannot work, whereas if you were in the UK without qualifications you could still find work.

Overall my experience has been fun and exciting, I have had the opportunity not only to meet people who work and live in Germany but other organisations based in England. It really has been a learning curve for me in terms of adapting to a new culture and trying different food.

Paulette Douglas - Communities Empowerment Network

This trip has been an amazing experience for me on so many levels. It has taught me a lot about myself both as a person, a practitioner and a team member.

Germany is a very interesting country and bears many similarities to the UK. However, the biggest challenge for me has been the inability to adequately read the facial expressions and social cues of the native Germans. However, having said that we have experienced amazing hospitality from the staff and volunteers at Kids & Co and the projects we have visited - the receptions we have received have been second to none.

The German education system is quite complex and there is tremendous emphasis on achieving qualifications and/or vocational training and like the UK it is currently built on a skills-based industry. What is interesting is that the education system does not have an exclusion policy - rather children and young people are supported in settings more suited to their needs. This allows them the opportunity to grow and develop in areas that they have an interest in. We have visited a number of projects and have been able to see firsthand, new strategies and systems of engaging disadvantaged youngsters and children and young people with special needs - all of which make great sense and have proven to be inspirational.

In Germany social workers (social pedagogs) work very closely with the practitioners in education, especially where support is needed for children and young people with 'special needs' - this system is a good example of 'joined up thinking and action'.

With regards to demographics, I have noticed a distinct divide between the indigenous population and the migrant communities living alongside them. I was surprised that the largest migrant group are of Turkish descent. Integration appears to be a long way away!
I have been startled at the amount of graffiti on walls in Germany - it seems to be very much a part of the culture here. Despite this, Berlin boasts the most beautiful architecture I have seen in a long while - many of the buildings appear to be steeped in history. The city itself is very quiet, almost sleepy and seems to take pride in its appearance - clean streets and pristine surroundings.

As a group of visitors to the country we have blossomed into a wonderful community of professionals willing to grow and develop together - whilst appreciating each others differences and celebrating our strengths. This has been a memorable experience for me and one which will remain with me for a while.

Leo Howley

Hello my name is Leo Howley and I work for Embrace North as a Group Co-Ordinator.

Upon hearing about the professional exchange to Berlin with Kids & Co I was very interested in participating in the observations of the local culture and the functionality of the workshop facilities. It was also very enlightening and inspirational to see the way that the local youth are interacted with at Kids & Co and how the placement process allows them to gain vital communication and work skills.

This exchange trip allowed me to gain a further understanding of the cultural and environmental backgrounds of the young adults that participate from Berlin in our Northern branch back in Burnley. By involving myself in this programme I also found myself very inspired towards setting up a fantastic learning environment for our students back in Burnley and also creating similar opportunities for the youth in my own local community. I am passionate about helping the youth find their role in life and passionate about providing a facility which allows young people to try to excel in life through workshops and work placements. I plan very soon to implement what I have learnt here into new vibrant programmes and to help the youth be inspired as I have.

This trip has been a life changing process and I have found myself overwhelmed with an amazing sense of well-being. There have been friends and bonds made here that will carry on for many years to come, and networks created to the betterment of all parties! Be inspired and become Inspirational!

James Robert Diable

My name is James Robert Diable, I work as a freelance art workshop co-ordinator and I have travelled with Embrace North, with whom I have recently been in touch with about possible involvement.
I found lots of elements about the trip compelling and found learning about Berlin’s social, political and educational ideologies very interesting and felt really energised in being able to digest so much information about another culture. As well it was a wonderful pleasure to be given the chance to meet some of the young people in Kids and Co and also the schools we visited.

In seeing a different culture I have been able to enhance my own learning capacity and evolve the way I approach a situation.
I have loved every minute of being in Berlin and am I feel I have gained so much from my learning’s about subjects such as the vocational training and the schooling structure. The Visible me from the Life dream project was a very productive way in which to summarise the week also. I hope that I can have some future involvement in working with both Embrace and also Kids and Co.

Janet Richards - Communities Empowerment Network

Berlin has been an interesting place for me and I have learnt a lot about the German education system, their laws and different projects offered to help the disadvantaged and disabled young people and children. This includes knowing how school refusers are integrated into education and projects offered to activate young people and integrate them into the labour market and also the system of schooling and vocational training offered to young people with special needs and disabled people. The number of school refusers are high in Berlin, most young people don’t the have social skills to work and to learn, no motivation, no power to stay at work and everyone has to learn a skill in order to get into the 1st labour market. The education system provides support in prevocational and vocational training to engage young people and find them work placements as a route to get jobs in labour market, placements are done on a weekend.

Most disadvantaged young people come from dysfunctional families, projects at kids and co offers prevocational training for young people to get orientation and to decide which program to choose. The young people are happy and committed to their training, social workers work onsite to support young people and staff. The ratio of employee from other countries is low and there is a need to promote diversity in the workplace in terms of recruitment. My visit to Berlin has been a very nice experience, the atmosphere is calm, cost of living is cheap, the city is beautiful and the transportation network is good.

The skill exchange programme has given me a good experience of educational system outside England and has added to my professional and self-development, I had the opportunity to interact and discuss with young people and migrants from other countries, there is no permanent school exclusion in Germany. My positive experience will reflect on my personal and professional practice in the UK, it has increased my awareness of different models and ways, strategies of working with young people.