Decision details

Academy FM is an education charity that also runs Folkestone’s Community Radio station. We are currently taking part in a national initiative to investigate the benefits of introducing Careers Education to Primary School children, in a project funded by the Careers & Enterprise Company. This project has been a great success, and we want to bring it to more children – we are asking you and some of your fellow Councillors for funding to carry this on, in up to 6 schools across 6 Wards. We aim to help children understand employment & careers by introducing them to local business owners and professionals, using Academy FM’s expertise in audio interviews. The children work in class-groups to research and then record audio interviews about careers they’re interested in, with visiting professionals or on trips to workplaces. Because we are a radio station, businesses are keen to engage with us. Previously we’ve had paramedics, farmers, firemen, office workers, builders, soldiers, footballers, IT professionals, actors and more. We are applying to you for £290, funding 50% of the work with Christ Church Primary, which is within your Ward. We are asking Cllr Peall for the remaining 50%.

DECISION:

To provide funding of £290 to the above project.

Reason for decision:

There is a growing understanding that careers-education is happening too late in the development of young people – it is largely delivered from age 14+. Our current project is supported by the Careers & Enterprise Company because research shows that children often have little idea of the link between school and their future career.

In a deprived town this is important, especially with concerns about youth unemployment due to Covid. Our current project is coming to an end, and we want to carry on this work. While some children have ideas about potential careers, some don’t realise their potential, and others think they can’t be a soldier because they’re a girl, or be a nurse because they’re a boy. We introduce them to a range of people from professionals with interesting but hard-to-attain careers such as footballers, to a range of more common vocations. The children research a career, and then record an audio interview with a visitor. One thing that always comes across is the importance of English, Maths, presentation, and communication skills. Because our methods use audio interviews, the children are engaged and the audio can be listened back to and shared between schools.