The Rendezvous Youth Services charity has set up its very own base in Yeovil with its unique Learning Project offering local 16 – 25 year olds free Maths and English one-to-one tuition working towards functional skills Qualifications.
Doors open at the Methodist Church in the Quedam on Tuesday mornings for one-to-one learning sessions by prior arrangement. Helped by funding from Somerset Community Foundation’s Coronavirus Recovery Fund, The Rendezvous Learning Project supports youngsters to gain their qualifications so they can join the job market, go to college, or join an apprenticeship.
‘It was really exciting to open just prior to Easter’ says Julie Bartle, Learning Manager who has headed the project in Sherborne for the last 6 years. ‘Our first Yeovil tutor is Paul, an ex-naval and prison officer, who sat down to English level 2 with Luke, 17 who wants to do a veterinary apprenticeship at the practice where he works. And Chris, a retired scientist from Yeovil Hospital started maths tutoring with Tyler also 17 whose missed out on lots of school’. ‘Some Volunteer Tutors have a teaching qualification, but it’s not essential’ says Julie ‘They need GCSE level competence, but most important of all, a great deal of patience and kindness and an ability to explain ideas calmly and clearly. Volunteers need to have 2-3 hours free a week and we give them an induction, support and a mentor as well as safeguarding training.’ ‘Some young people miss out the first-time round at school for all sorts of different reasons’ says Learning Associate Faye Dimdore. ‘Their confidence and self-esteem can be really low and they are stuck without the qualifications they need. We do Pearson’s Functional Skills maths and English which is practical and recognised by employers colleges and apprenticeships. It enables young people to move onto their next steps in life. And we see them really gain in confidence along the way. ‘Working one to one with an adult tutor is a new and positive experience for our learners who found classrooms a struggle; some pupils found it difficult to get the attention they needed when they didn’t understand so they found themselves falling behind. With us they can go over things at their pace and take the exam when they are ready so our pass rate is high’.
Anyone who needs their English or Maths level 1 or 2 is welcome to contact Faye and Julie at the Rendezvous. Likewise anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a Volunteer Tutor in Yeovil. Please email Learning@therendezvous.org.uk and visit www.therendezvous.org. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rendezvousyeovil