#Chances4Children: Employability programme launches to help young people into work

Social enterprise Catch22 said the Horizons programme, supported by investment banking firm JP Morgan Chase, will help people overcome social barriers to work such as homelessness, mental health or poor education.

• Government urged to fund charity jobs for NEET young people

• Analysis: Schemes set up to help young people find work

The programme is one of the first to address both unemployment and underemployment; where work is either low paid, unstable or without opportunities to progress, the organisation added.

Initially focussed on people in London, the programme will provide participants with support from career advisors to develop a bespoke, aspiration-based career plan. Support will include coaching, relationship-building and practical support such as help to access housing services. 

Participants will also work in groups to gain key employability skills such as communication, problem-solving, team-working, writing CVs and cover letters, applying for jobs, interview techniques and setting future career goals. 

Alongside this, volunteers from professional careers will help participants understand their roles and what their jobs are like from the inside. There will also be a menu of technical training options, with all participants encouraged to complete technical training courses and gain relevant licenses, where it supports their journey.  

Participants will also receive up to six months in-work support from Catch22 support workers to help them identify any challenges, such as being punctual, or adjusting to a new working environment. The programme will also provide access to laptops and connectivity support for young people where digital exclusion presents a barrier. 

Learning from the programme will feed into Catch22’s wider policy work on employability, which looks to ensure those furthest from the job market are properly supported to find sustainable employment.



Kat Dixon, head of partnerships at Catch22, said: “With unemployment rates continuing to rise, we’re determined to help as many people as possible to enter the job market. We’re focusing on young people, low-income households and those who face social barriers to work, as they’re being hit particularly hard by the current conditions. 

“The Horizons programme is designed to provide 1:1 guidance alongside group sessions, specific training and in-work support. Our experience of delivering employability programmes tells us that tailoring the offer to meet individual needs is vital if participants are to succeed."

 “We’re aiming to help 20,000 people young people into work over the next three years. And with the support of partners like JPMorgan Chase, we’re confident we can achieve that.”