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Out-of-work Leeds man aims to help others
IN THE LOOP: Damon Cooper has a pilot project in which young people do podcasts showcasing their skills.
An unemployed young Leeds man who has applied for 100 jobs without success since leaving school has won the backing of deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as he bids to start his own project to help get the city’s youth earning and learning.
Damon Cooper, from Farsley, has written to Mr Clegg and to the business community to ask for help in putting together a podcast project which would challenge listeners to help his young, unemployed guests find jobs, as well as showcasing young people’s skills and talents.
Mr Clegg – who has recently made jobless youngsters his priority as part of his £ 1bn Youth Contract proposals – today lauded Damon’s “tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit”.
In Leeds, around 2,000 16-19 year olds – 8.1 per cent – were officially classed as NEETs (not in education, employment or training) in November 2011, according to the latest available figures from the city’s education department.
Damon, 22 – who left school in 2008 with a diploma in tourism and was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome – has already written a business plan for his project but is struggling to find the funding he needs for the pilot.
He said he had applied for more than 100 jobs without success since leaving school.
“A project like this would give me a chance to be employed for the first time since 2008,” Damon told the YEP.
“I have struggled to deal with the long bouts of depression during my long-term unemployment and have many times felt rejected by society in general. On top of all that the benefits culture that we have in this country is a fruitless way of life and it is no wonder why so many NEETs suffer such low confidence.
“It’s a culture that needs changing and young people should be at the heart of changing it because we never asked for this culture.
“We will become a lost generation.”
In a letter to potential investors and to Mr Clegg, Damon – who is involved with the Farsley Youth Development Project and has DJ’d on the youth group’s Spin FM radio station – said: “I appreciate the fact that the Government throws a lot of taxpayers’ money to try and solve the problems of unemployment.
Mr Clegg told the YEP: “I applaud Damon’s tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit and look forward to receiving his letter. Times are tough but we’re doing everything we can to help people, and especially young people, get proper lasting jobs.”
Damon is trying to raise £3,950 to help create and broadcast his weekly radio podcast helped in the 26-week pilot project by the Leeds-based FutureArts youth charity.
Contact Damon via Future Arts on 0113 2468294 or email: people@futurearts.co.uk if you can help him.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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fieldofclothofgold
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:26 PMGo for it Damo ,you are always good entertainment on Southstander.com
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