i)
To enhance young people's prospects of gainful employment, education
and training to maximise their income.
ii) To help empower young people to realise their potential
and improve their personal confidence and quality of life.
iii) To promote the welfare of young people through engaging
in social policy and by promoting good practice.
HISTORY
1983
- Hitslink
Advice Agency established for young people aged between 16-25;
opened to the public, using 2 small offices housed at HITS ( Highfields
Induction Training Scheme) at 86 Evington Road
- The need for Hitslink was identified by staff at HITS , which
was a youth training scheme based in Highfields area of Leicester.
- Original intention was to serve young people who were either
current or ex-trainees of HITS ( hence the name Hitslink)
- Original hierarchical Management Structure consisted of Project
Manager ,an Administrator, Welfare Rights Advisor, Employment
Worker and Information Worker.
- Funded by Inner Area Programme (IAP) and Manpower Services Commission
(MSC)
1984
- Funding
secured from both Leicester City Council and Leicester County
Council
1985
- A Development
Worker and Clerical Worker Appointed
1986
- Hitslink
involved with The Alvey Project, which was a joint project in
partnership with Loughborough University, funded by DTI for 3
years, designed to research user friendly software. Funding enabled
the purchase of new computer equipment.
- Became member of National Youth Agency to promote information
exchange
1989
- Hitslink
registered as an informal co-operative, with Register of Companies
but was not yet recognised as a co- operative by the local authority.
- A second employment adviser and welfare adviser were appointed
following the increase demand for services, which increased the
staff to team 8.
1990
- Hitslink
moved into larger premises to it's existing premises to accommodate
the growing demand of services.
- Hitslink became a Management Co-Operative Ltd, all workers became
Directors of the company and the Management Committee was dissolved.
- Hitslink Advisory Group (HAG) was established, the group holds
no statutory powers; HAG is composed of users of Hitslink, Councillors
and members of other voluntary organisations.
- Inner Area Programme (IAP) funding was secured to corner building
refurbishment costs.
1991
- Additional
capital funding was granted by IAP and Leicester County Council
- Highfields Induction Training Scheme (HITS) closed.
- Hitslink Toy and Book Library opened specialising in books and
toys that presented positive images of Black and Asian people.
- Hitslink's open day took place in the new premises.
1992
- Target user age group raised from 16-25 years to include 16-30
year olds.
· Obtained TAP (Training Access Point) and Adult Directions
as extra resources.
1993
- Hitslink's
10th Anniversary.
- Hitslink was offered a pilot Service Level Agreement by County
Hall, which changed the nature of funding from a grant to a contractual
arrangement.
1994
- Grant from City Challenge Training Fund enabled an accredited
computer course to be implemented at Hitslink through Leicester
Open College Network (LOCN).
1995
- Discussions with Leicester County Council regarding services
and funding culminated in an agreement that staffing level and
most of the existing services would be retained except for health
education work and social exclusion project work, effective from
1996.
- County Council introduced SLA Agreements to measure outputs
and outcomes.
- Hitslink organised seminar to launch initiative to support children
excluded from school, as a result an 'Exclusion from School' working
group has been established.
1996
- Continual developments with childcare fora have resulted in
greater childcare facilities in the Highfields area of Leicester.
- Hitslink involved with 'Condom Project', whereby condoms have
been distributed to young people in order to promote sexual health.
- Liaisons with Drug Advice Centre and Peer Education Project
to promote information and awareness of drugs.
1997
- Introduction
of Volunteer Policy led to greater use of volunteers.
- Unitary Status by Leicester City Council meant that funding
transferred from Leicester County Council to Leicester City Council
( Environment and Development Committee)
- Standstill budget since 1994 resulted in loosing a Full Time
Team Assistant Post.
- Successful bid submitted to Single Regeneration Budget's Training
Challenge to continue Computer Training and the purchasing of
extra computer equipment.
- SLA targets exceeded with 85 users securing employment and £23,890
raised as income for clients as a result of Welfare Benefit advice
and advocacy.
- Service specification amended to include Health Advice Work
- Employment Workers involved with 'Making Opportunities Conference'
organised by Leicester Compact at local Secondary Schools to promote
options after school.
- Hitslink involved Development of Highfields and St Mathews Community
Employment Project aimed at providing an employment service to
adults of Wycliffe and Spinney Hill Wards.
1998
- Hitslink involved with Ethnic Minority Further Education Widening
Project. A Project organised by Leicester University, which aims
to promote Higher Education with Ethnic Minorities.
- Internet research project developed to identify and evaluate
present and future public provision of access to the information
highway amongst young people.
- Uncertainty regarding funding in the whole of the advice sector,
led to intensive a lobbying of the City Council.
- Application to the Legal Aid Board made for a Franchise in Welfare
Benefits Work .
- Hitslink Information Technology Training and Resource Project
(HITTARP) was awarded funding through SRB.
- Hitslink introduced counselling services in conjunction with
Open Door.
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1999
- Secured funding from African Caribbean Young People's fund to
run internet training .
- Secured funding from Single Regeneration Budget to train young
people in computing and to manage a driving course.
- Legal Aid Franchise awarded, contract to begin in April 2000
STAFF
Hitslink is fortunate enough to have founder members of Hitslink
still involved in the Management Co-operative. Currently the staff
team consists of 9 members of whom 7 form the Management Co -operative
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| EMPLOYMENT
ADVISER: DHRUTEE MADHANI |
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8 years experience at Hitslink
- Pro-active in community work
- Experience in design and promotional materials |
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| INFORMATION
WORKER: TONY RAMSEY |
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Degree in World Humanities
- 20 years experience in Community Development
- 10 years experience with Hitslink
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| WELFARE
RIGHTS ADVISER: DAVE ROBERTS |
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Degree in English, History and Media Studies
- 5 years experience in Welfare Rights work |
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| EMPLOYMENT
ADVISER: RITA
PALAN |
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| WELFARE
RIGHTS ADVISER: RIEZA KHAN |
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Degree in Physics and Astro Physics
- 6 years experience in Welfare Rights work |
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