Community News

CatZero gives KC apprentice a once in a lifetime opportunity

KC apprentice Lee Wahlers (left) and CatZero's Sean Cahill

While most of us are spending January trying to stay motivated and on track with our New Year’s resolutions, one of KC’s apprentices will be starting the year with a life changing experience that will provide years of motivation.

KC Systems and Data apprentice Lee Wahlers was selected from KC’s eight apprentices to join the ONE Hull yacht on the third leg of the North Atlantic Challenge yacht race.

The CatZero programme delivers specialist training to hard-to-reach young people in Hull and the charity has entered a number of high-profile sailing challenges to raise funds to allow it to continue its work transforming the lives of local young people who are not in education, employment or training. KC has been a community partner of CatZero for two years and was offered a place on the race as a thank you for its continued support in helping young people to find a future.

Jim Dick, CatZero Chairman, said: “We have a fantastic success rate of helping the young people we work with move on to education, employment or training and for this to continue we have an ongoing programme of fundraising activity. This includes taking part in sailing challenges, as well as working with our dedicated partners from the business community, such as KC.”

The North Atlantic Challenge is a four stage, four month race. The ONE Hull yacht set off from Hull in late October 2011 to take in The Canary Islands, St Lucia and the Azores before heading back to Hull in mid February via the Thames Estuary. KC apprentice Lee has joined Skipper Danny Watson and the ONE Hull crew in St Lucia and will receive onboard training before he heads off across the Atlantic leg of the race, which could see him at sea for over 20 days.

Lee said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found out about the North Atlantic Challenge opportunity, and to be selected was even more of a shock – I still can’t believe it. I think the challenge will allow me to learn a lot about myself and with all the experience has to offer, I truly can’t think of a better way to embrace 2012. I’d like to thank CatZero for the opportunity to join the ONE Hull crew and to everyone at KC who made it possible too.”

The KC apprentices, aged between 18 and 24, work in a range of roles in the business, from engineering to marketing, and are a year in to their apprenticeships. The sailing opportunity was offered to them as a thank you for their hard work and commitment.

Helen Roberts, KC HR Director said: “Our apprentices have been an invaluable addition to KC. They are incredibly passionate and hard working young people, so picking just one of them to go on the challenge wasn’t easy. We asked each of them to explain to us why they wanted to go and what they would get out of it.

“We partnered with CatZero two years ago as part of our KC in the Community programme, and we’ve seen firsthand the fantastic work they do. By showing young people their full potential and giving them access to various services and support, they are genuinely turning lives around.”  

The KC apprentices were recruited in partnership with YHATA (Yorkshire and Humber Apprentice Training Agency), part of the Hull College Group. YHATA Operations Manager Jakki Lovewell said: “Our team have worked with KC for over a year, recruiting, training and managing their apprentices, so we know the young people really well. Lee will have such an amazing time and I have no doubt that he will return to his role with even more commitment and enthusiasm than when he left.”

To find out more about how to support CatZero or take part in one of their sailing challenges call Clare on 01482 333303, email clare@catzero.orgor visit http://www.catzero.org/

For more information about apprenticeships please contact YHATA on (01482) 343470, email yhata@hull-college.ac.uk or visit http://www.yhata.org/

 

About CatZero

CatZero is a registered charity designed to develop and deliver specialist programmes to meet the needs of children, young people, their families and the local community. CatZero works with the most hard to reach young people within the city of Hull that are categorised as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) through the delivery of innovative youth development training, allowing them to make progress towards the world of work through challenging educational and personal development programmes. The experience is motivational and designed to bring about attitudinal change to employment.  CatZero specialise in developing programmes to meet specific needs, this is undertaken by working with and in partnership with funding bodies, delivery partners including statutory services, local businesses and the young people themselves as well as the local community.

About YHATA

YHATA is an apprentice recruitment agency. Working in partnership with businesses, YHATA engages, selects and short-lists suitable candidates, saving the host employer time and resources in the selection process.

YHATA is supported by the National Apprenticeship Service and is part of the Hull College Group. YHATA is a tried and tested apprentice recruitment initiative which now operates on a national level, following a successful pilot scheme.