Annual Awards for Achievement 2008

Working It Out Team Challenge of the Year - Professional Party People

A group of 12 young people from Plymouth has won an Achievement Award by national employment charity Tomorrow's People.

The charity's Annual Awards for Achievement pay tribute to people who have overcome significant barriers in their quest to get into work, education or training. The team and their Tomorrow's People Employment Advisers attended the awards ceremony at Plaisterers' Hall, London on Wednesday 12th November.

The young people were all participants in the Tomorrow's People 'Working It Out' programme. The initiative targets vulnerable and socially-excluded young people, helping them to overcome the multiple and complex barriers they face and to develop the skills and motivation they need to move into jobs or training. Over a 16-week period, the young people design and deliver a project which will benefit their local community - anything from running a football course for local children, to painting and decorating a community building.

Calling themselves 'Professional Party People', the Plymouth team started their Working It Out programme with a five day sea training course in 'Interger', a75' sailing ketch. The team faced a challenge right from the start as many of the young people had multiple barriers and disabilities, however they all supported each-other brilliantly throughout the trip!

Back on dry land, the Plymouth and District office of MIND offered the team the opportunity to refurbish a community hall and work space. The team first raised �100 worth of funds to cover the decorating materials they needed, by organising a 17-mile sponsored walk from Dartmoor Prison to their Plymouth base.

The group were really efficient, building a strong rapport with MIND's staff and clients, who took a keen interest in the work. MIND's Director, Richard Wakerell was extremely pleased with the quality of the work and with the mature attitude of the 'Professional Party People' team. One of the team said, "I liked helping those who are worse off than us and was proud of what we achieved".