I JUST want to make my little girl proud.” Those are the words of Michael, who has found work with a Daily Echo-backed scheme.

The 24-year-old from Southampton has gained a year-long work placement as part of the Life Chances scheme, run by the Rainbow Project, a small charity based in the city.

The scheme helps disadvantaged young people in the area who are struggling to find work.

As well as gaining part-time employment, the young people are also assigned a one-to-one mentor and given work-related training in order to help them find permanent work in future.

Michael had gone to college at 16, but left after doing an NVQ level 1 in carpentry.

At first he was able to find work, but as the recession deepened the work dried up and he was unemployed for eight months.

“It’s so hard to find work,” says Michael, who has a 20-month-old daughter. “I was looking for anything – retail, warehouse. I have bills to pay!”

He sought help in finding work from The Wheatsheaf Trust, and they referred him to the Rainbow Project.

“It could have been any work and I would have taken it,” he says.

Luckily for Michael,there was an employment opportunity on a pre-apprenticeship in carpentry with the housing services division of Southampton City Council.

He has joined the team preparing empty council properties for tenants, doing everything from helping to fit and tile kitchens to hanging doors.

“It has given Michael an opportunity to develop his skills and improve his literacy to level 2, with the possibility of him going on to a full apprenticeship,” says Laura Coleman, of the Rainbow Project.

“I didn’t think I’d get a chance at my age to get an apprenticeship,”

says Michael.

“When I left college there was work available so I took it. You see the opportunity for the work and don’t think about the long term,”

he adds, explaining why he didn’t seek further qualifications when he was younger.

Michael says he loves being in work – in fact, although he is only paid to do three days work, during the summer, while he doesn’t have college, he is doing an extra day on a voluntary basis.

Practical “I’m happy in a routine. This is a turning point for me. I like practical, hands-on work. I’m in a pattern with work and college, and then I have my little girl at the weekends. It hurries up the time for me to see her again.”

Michael’s employers have been delighted with him.

“He’s done really well,” says carpenter and joiner Gary Elgar, who oversees him on a day-to-day basis. “He’s always punctual and hasn’t missed a day. He’s willing to learn and takes everything in.”

Debbie Van Coller, policy and project officer at the Housing Services division, adds that Michael’s work placement is proving to be so successful that they are looking to take on another young person through the scheme.

Michael is delighted to be in regular work with bright prospects after struggling to find a job – and to have the pay packet that goes with it. “It’s nice to have the money to take my little girl out and buy her things,” he says.

  • The Rainbow Project needs to recruit more businesses to take part in their Life Chances scheme.

Businesses pay the minimum wage for the young person to the scheme, which is actually the employer and takes on related responsibilities. It is also looking for sponsors who may not be able to take on a young person but would like to pay their wages to work elsewhere.

For more information, visit therainbowproject.co.uk or call 023 8022 3525