It was a great surprise when I read in the Echo that another Prospects college was to be built.
My grandson went to the one in Southend and did the plumbing course. He was told there would be an apprenticeship place found at the end of the course.
He got a part-time job to help with the fares from Basildon, where he lives, plus the tools and books that were needed.
At the end of the course the class was told there weren’t any apprenticeships available.
He was not put off and set about trying to find someone who would take him on.
After nearly 400 letters and phone calls, he found one person who had apprenticeships to offer. It was in Bradford. The door was closed.
He then thought he would try for accountancy. A place was found at another college with a two-year course, again with an apprenticeship at the end.
Three-quarters of the way through the course he found there was to be no second year and no apprenticeship.
How many of our young people are going to go into college with high hopes for the future, only to find it’s another empty promise of this government?
Evelyn Hailes
Lower Street
Noak Bridge
Basildon
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