A £50 INCENTIVE encouraged some 200 people to attend a two-day taster session for youngsters not in employment education or training (Neet).

The Kick Start courses were held at all K College campuses, including Folkestone, Dover and Ashford, last month.

Those who turned out were given the £50 boost and offered the chance to join a follow-up six-week course of training, leading to a qualification.

K College vice principal for learner success, Bernadette Katchoff, said most of those who went to the two-day course have signed up to continue.

Research for Connexions Kent youth service for November 2011 shows there were 254 16 to 18-year-olds in Dover district recorded as Neet – equating to seven per cent of all district residents in that age group – a rise of 91 compared to the same period in 2010.

The figure rose steadily between April 2011, where 159 teens were outside of work or education, to November's 254- the highest figure in the last three years.

A breakdown of what those youngsters were doing showed four had taken up personal development opportunities – such as a gap year; four were not ready to work or learn; five were awaiting education course places; 188 were looking for work, training or education; one was a young carer; 26 were teenage parents; ten suffered illness; 12 were pregnant and one was deemed unlikely "to be economically active".

In December Dover district had 2,601 people claiming unemployment benefits. Almost 11 per cent, or 286, of those were aged 24 or under.

Mrs Katchoff, said: "The rise in the number of so-called Neets reflects the fact that they cannot find jobs.

"K College can help them become better prepared for work.

"Kick Start is an initiative created by K College to encourage those young people who are most hard to reach in the five towns we serve.

"We are doing our best to address the growing problem of youth unemployment and the large number of young people Neet.

Kick Start enables them to have two days of advice, guidance and support that could change their lives.

"Many of these particular young people have not done as well as hoped at school and we want to show them that college courses give them a fresh start by trying different job related courses to find out which one they would enjoy the most.

"The £50 K Bursary is towards their travel, meals and expenses.

"It also enables them to progress immediately onto a six-week course before becoming a full-time student with K College in September.

"To anyone who thinks this is not a good investment in our local young people, I would say that it is better to encourage people to come to college to use their time productively by increasing their employability skills.

"They need all the help we can give to prepare for qualifications, apprenticeships and work, rather than doing nothing because they aren't confident about their job prospects."

The courses start on February 22 and there is still a chance for young people to enrol by going on the website and clicking the Kick Start link or pop into the campus in Maison Dieu Road.