It’s tough out there. With 20.5% of 16-25 year olds in London currently unemployed, we understand how hard it is to get a job at the moment. We appreciate even with qualifications or work experience it can still be a challenge to getting into employment, the reality is that too long without work can also leave you lacking in confidence and motivation.

What we're doing

Career-ability

London Youth, together with the London Learning Consortium, are currently recruiting 100 young people aged 19-24 for the ground breaking Career-ability Programme. 

This fully funded programme aims to re-energise young people’s attitude towards their career, helping them navigate their way through today’s challenging job market.   

Recruitment for June is taking place at London Youth, 47-49 Pitfield Street, London, N1 6DA (nearest Tube: Old Street) to get involved book a time to see Sarah Restall by emailing sarah.restall@londonyouth.org.uk or calling 020 7543 8800.

Interest?  For more information click Career-abillty.

What we've been doing

Since October 2009, we've held a number of regular workshops for young unemployed jobseekers referred by the job centre. Delivered in a fun and interactive way, we used peer facilitators to enthuse young people about the jobs on offer and scheme as a whole. On our programme, all young people were paid London Living Wage, receiving up to £1,000 worth of training and were able to access additional opportunities across the organisation. Each placement was different and individually tailored to best match the needs, skills and aptitudes of those taking part.

What we’re shouting about! 

• 130 young people have been successfully placed into work across 32 voluntary sector organisations
• 52% of Future Jobs Fund employees who complete the programme have found full time employment at the end of the six month placement
• 100% stated their confidence had significantly increased as a direct result of the Future Jobs Fund placement
• 90% stated the Future Jobs Fund made a difference to their career prospects

Future Jobs Fund

Since June 2009 the Youth Action team has placed 180 young people into work through the government initiative Future Jobs Fund, the majority of these have been in positions within our member organisations. Although the scheme sadly came to an end in March this year the experience has given us a huge passion for supporting young people into employment.

Employability Workshops

The Youth Action team have developed  Employability Workshops which, as well as increasing skills and giving tips, work to raise both aspirations and confidence when approaching the job market. We know how important it is to hear from other young people who have been successful in gaining employment.  We also trained young people as peer mentors through our peer mentoring programme, enabling them to offer young job-seekers the 1:1 support so needed

Youth Work Careers

A recent survey listed Youth Work as one of the top jobs that interested young people. Yet our experience tells us many don’t know how to get into a career in youth work. Our former programme Youth Works gave young people the opportunity to volunteer in a member youth club whilst taking their Level 1 Foundation in Youth Work qualification. Young people giving back to their communities by becoming role models and community leaders is something we’re passionate about at London Youth.

Get in touch!

If you are interested in finding more about our work in this area please contact Sarah Restall by email at sarah.restall@londonyouth.org.uk