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“London ESF Story Conference” - 4 June 2008

The “London ESF Story” Conference took place at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club and was held to recognise and celebrate the success of the ESF programmes across London. Over ¾ of a million beneficiaries learning valuable skills and gaining qualifications via various training programmes participated in the last fund round which closed in 2006.

James Plaskitt MP, Parliamentary under Secretary, recalled his first impressions in his new role as Work and Pensions Minister for ESF, when he met with beneficiaries at Ilderton’s Southwark training centre in October 2005. Mr Plaskitt experienced first hand the valuable work being undertaken through our Basic Motor Maintenance Course to re-engage young people into education presenting beneficiaries with certificates.

On making reference to Ilderton’s work, Mr Plaskitt described his first visit as the new ESF Minster and how he had met a young man called Corrie. His meeting with Corrie had impressed upon him the value and the long term impact that our work has on young people providing an alternative programme to re-engage with learning and formal education.

“The boost this had to his self confidence and well-being is immeasurable. Without the help of this project, he freely admitted he could have been drawn into crime and potentially into a downward spiral of exclusion.

He is just one of the three quarters of a million Londoners who – since 2000 – have improved their job prospects and skills thanks to ESF”. (Full speech)

ESF funding enabled Ilderton to engage 260 learners from across London from boroughs such as Westminster, Islington, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth. 80% of learners achieved units towards their learning aim with 50% of learners accessing our services from BME communities. We are delighted with the success of our ESF funded programme and hope to continue this work in 2008/09

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