'Hoodies' trained to be fitness instructors in a bid to reduce youth unemployment

The founder of the LA fitness chain of gyms has set up a scheme to help youngsters branded as 'hoodies' out of long-term unemployment by training them to be fitness instructors. Fred Turok hopes his initiative will see 1,800 young people receive training this year and has already trained 300 since January. The Transforming a Generation (TAG) project claims it will revolutionise how young people can break through their personal barriers, get jobs and kick start their careers. "As a nation, we are failing our young people because we're trying to solve profound and debilitating contemporary social and economic issues with an outdated and broken model," said TAG chairman, Turok. "What TAG has done is taken a government funded initiative, worked with potential employers to develop a training model which meets their needs and created a young people-centric programme which helps them take that giant step from disenfranchised unemployment to a fulfilling, rewarding career in an industry which is primed for expansion." Turok says that youth unemployment is one of the most pressing issues facing Britain today and the TAG model is designed to help young people who are not in education training or employment (NEETs) secure a Level 2 health and fitness instructor qualification, undertake a four month paid work placement and build a career in the health and fitness industry. Every young person on the scheme will also be provided with a dedicated mentor who will work with them from the outset on a 12-month personal development plan that aims to help them clarify and achieve their goals. The programme also comprises modules on exercise, nutrition and fitness, a focus on workplace behaviour, interpersonal skills and the power of neuro linguistic programming (NLP).  "A partnership solution is the only way we can break a cycle which robs our society of access to young people who are rich in talent but poor in opportunities," concluded Turok. The TAG programme is funded by the government Department of Work and Pensions' Future Job Fund and will be implemented in almost 30 TAG centres located in local communities across the country.