The ADTRAC team supports young people aged between 16-24 across Wrexham and Flintshire and helps them to overcome any barriers that might make it difficult for them to get a job, onto a training course or into further education.

What does ADTRAC offer?

• One to one intensive support
• Personalised action plans
• Support to develop confidence and overcome barriers
• Wellbeing support including the opportunity to access provision for mild/moderate mental health needs from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
• Access to training
• Employability support

Jack (17), who has been on the ADTRAC programme since January 2018 said, “It has helped me in all positive ways really. I am a more positive person, even my family have said that since I have started ADTRAC and since I have been working with Nathan I have been a lot more positive and happy.”

Jacks also says he is now ready to find a job and feels that the project has helped him to feel confident enough to do it. Not only has the project had a positive impact on Jack’s employability but it has also had a positive impact on his life at home.

Jack continues; “We have always been a close family, but since I have been part of the project we are even closer.”

ADTRAC has been running for just over a year and it is already seeing some positive results:

• 74% of young people have had a difficulty in engaging in education, employment and training. This reduced to 12% on exit.
• 81% of young people identified lacking in confidence as one of their main barriers into education, employment and training.
• 63% of young people had experienced long term unemployment at the point of entry

Over 468 young people have been referred to the ADTRAC project in total across Wrexham and Flintshire in it’s first year.  The project, which is supported through European Social Funds, aims to provide one-to-one bespoke support from ADTRAC personal mentors or NHS mental health practitioners as well as tailored training and courses designed to meet the specific needs and improve the wellbeing of young people aged 16-24.

Joseph (22), who has been on the ADTRAC programme since May 2018 said; “I used to always stay in and bottle myself in, away from the world. I have not had the support before, so it has always been a struggle. But, with the help of the mental health team and Nathan (ADTRAC mentor) it has been really helpful. I have always had a passion for helping people and I now know I want to go down the mentoring route and become a mentor myself”

Partnership working

ADTRAC is part funded by the European Social Fund through Welsh Government’ and is led by Grwp Llandrillo Menai across North Wales, working in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council, Flintshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health board, with the support of the Department for Work and Pensions and Careers Wales.

“A real need for the service”

Cllr Andrew Atkinson, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-poverty said, “This is a fantastic project and I am excited to see how it continues. With over 250 referrals in Wrexham and 211 in Flintshire in its first year, it shows there is a real need for the service and it is making a difference to young people’s lives in the area. By watching the films of the young people who have been directly helped by the project you can see exactly how beneficial this support is.”

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Youth, Councillor Ian Roberts, said: “This is a really great programme.  This approach has helped many young people with barriers, whatever they may be, stopping them being able to get a job, onto a training course or into further education, to have more opportunities for independence and well-being. We will continue to build on the success of this first year, and continue to provide services that are at the forefront of good practice.”

Find out more about the project at https://www.gllm.ac.uk/adtrac or get in touch with the ADTRAC team for Wrexham and Flintshire at ADTRAC@wrexham.gov.uk for further details regarding the referral process for organisations as well as for self-referrals.