Greater Manchester Youth Network calling on more businesses in Greater Manchester to follow John Lewis’ example
John Lewis has recently pledged to support 300 care experienced workers by 2025, and Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) hopes this encourages more businesses to follow in their footsteps.
GMYN supports the most vulnerable groups of young people across Greater Manchester, including those growing up with experience of the care system.
Cared-for young people and care leavers can face multiple challenges due to early adverse experiences, meaning they struggle compared to their peers. Often for these young people, GMYN provides the only positive, informal relationship with a trusted adult.
GMYN has been helping young people aged 10-25 since 2012 through programmes to build social skills, encourage positive wellbeing, develop self-esteem and provide skills for the future.
GMYN provides a variety of support for young people with experience of care, ranging from life skills workshops like cooking and budgeting, to employability sessions focusing on CV writing and interviewing.
However, without support from businesses in Greater Manchester it is difficult for the charity to provide real life experience for many of the young people who are keen to get involved in the world of work.
One young person, part of GMYN’s Care Leaver Youth Voice group, says: “Some places are discriminatory, I’ve applied for loads of jobs but not got them. People don’t understand what it’s like to be a care leaver, I wish they’d understand this and be more real. They just need to listen to us.”
GMYN’s work readiness programmes enable young people to access exciting development activities that widen the experiences they can access whilst also developing the skills and resilience they need to move them closer to employment.
Many employers aren’t aware of the support they can provide to care experienced young people and care leavers. GMYN is calling for more businesses to come forward, like John Lewis, to support so many young people who are looking for employment support and opportunities in Greater Manchester.
A young person on the Building Connections Programme says: “GMYN’s support has been amazing, not just to help me get work but also to get employers to listen to us and make changes. More of this has to happen!”
Euan Davies, Programmes Manager at GMYN, says: “Too often the needs of care leavers are overlooked which can mean that the journey into employment is a struggle. We are keen to engage businesses who will help our young people overcome any barriers they may face to provide stable, long term employment opportunities.”
