Marky’s Journey: From Uncertainty to Confidence

Marky, a 23-year-old referred to the Youth Employment Service (YES) by the Department of Work and Pensions, came to us with unique experience in proofreading, fact-checking, and copywriting. Their work with AI chatbots—refining prompts, ensuring appropriate tone, evaluating responses, and safeguarding outputs—revealed a clear passion for language and precision. When we began working together, it was evident that Marky wanted to pursue opportunities aligned with these skills, and thus their journey began.

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Direction

When Marky first met with YES coach Laura, they were feeling uneasy, having recently lost their job and wanting to re-enter the workforce quickly. Together, they explored Marky’s qualifications, career goals, and long-term aspirations. Copywriting, proofreading, and editing stood out as areas of interest, and the focus shifted to building the skills and qualifications necessary for a successful future.

One critical step was assessing Marky’s foundational skills. Marky shared:

“English has always been my safest subject, while Maths is my least favourite. But I’ve now come to terms with the fact that I do know maths and can understand it. Multiply has been teaching me better ways to solve problems like percentages, and the support has been invaluable.”

Marky was nervous about their maths and English assessments but exceeded their own expectations, gaining a clear understanding of their current abilities:

“I never sat my GCSEs and had no idea where I stood. I thought I was okay at English and not good at maths, but it turned out I was actually pretty good at maths and even better at English!”

Building Skills and Confidence

With support from YES, Marky began working on their CV and exploring college and university pathways. Marky also reflected on the qualifications and skills needed in their desired field and set the goal of earning GCSEs in maths and English. Through referral to the Multiply program, Marky is receiving tailored support to strengthen these core skills.

“YES helped me look at long-term career options, industry pathways, and viable job opportunities. Laura would go through job listings with me to see if they were realistic options and helped me plan the next steps. Now, I’m working on getting my GCSEs to open up more career and educational opportunities.”

A Positive Outlook on the Future

Marky found the guidance and encouragement they needed to take steps they once thought impossible:

“I always saw college as a huge thing that seemed unattainable, but now it feels doable and achievable—something I actually look forward to exploring. Laura made me feel very safe in our meetings and helped me work out what to do next. She also put things into perspective for me, which was incredibly helpful.”

Proud Moments

As Marky’s YES coach, Laura shares:

“I’m so proud of the progress Marky has made during our time together. From building confidence to taking actionable steps toward their goals, they’ve grown so much. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things they’ll achieve in the future.”

Marky’s journey is a testament to the power of support, perseverance, and belief in one’s abilities. We’re excited to see where their next steps lead them.

Celebrating the Journey of Sam and Ben: A Story of Growth and Determination

Sam and Ben, 25-year-old twins from Felixstowe, joined the YES service in November 2023 after facing challenges in their employment journey. Both brothers have shown incredible dedication, resilience, and a passion for building their futures, and we are proud to share their inspiring story.

Sam’s Journey

Sam, a lifelong Felixstowe local, is a football fan (a loyal Liverpool supporter!), Harry Potter enthusiast, and Eminem listener. After being let go from a warehouse job, he was referred to YES. At the time, Sam was already volunteering at the Sense charity shop, where his love for retail and people was clear.

Together with his YES coach, Laura, Sam explored the skills needed for various roles, including retail and kitchen work, and completed his Food Safety course. He also participated in the Suffolk Country Skills Employability workshop, gaining vital interview, CV, and cover letter skills.

Sam’s growth continued when he joined the Ipswich-based TEAM Programme. Over 12 weeks, he honed his teamwork, community engagement, and employability skills, all while growing in confidence. He even applied to volunteer at 4YP, the site where the TEAM Programme was held, and is now enjoying his role as a volunteer there.

Although Sam has aged out of the YES service, we facilitated a smooth handover to Anglia Care Trust, where he will receive ongoing support. Both Sam and Laura are proud of his transformation and look forward to seeing his continued success.

“My journey has been really good, I’ve learned new things, I now know how to work in a team. I know new skills. I’ve had new experiences.”

His message to other young people currently thinking about joining Inspire or one of their programmes is:

“Come and join and meet new people.”

Ben shares many interests with his twin brother, enjoying rap music, video games, and boxing. Initially referred to YES by the Job Centre, Ben expressed a strong interest in working in sports retail. Together, we explored opportunities and found a volunteering role at Sense, where he built transferable skills and boosted his confidence by eventually increasing his commitment to three days a week.

Like Sam, Ben completed his Food Safety course and participated in the Quick-Chat event run by Inspire, connecting with volunteer providers and exploring additional opportunities for well-being. Ben also joined the Ipswich-based TEAM Programme, earning a certificate in Employability, Teamwork, and Community.

As Ben transitions from the YES service, he is now working with Anglia Care Trust to continue his journey. We are excited to see where his future takes him and are proud of the progress he’s made.

A Shared Path of Growth

Both Sam and Ben have shown remarkable determination and resilience, making the most of every opportunity to grow their skills and confidence. From volunteering to training courses and the TEAM Programme, they have embraced challenges and are now well-equipped to continue building their futures.

We wish Sam and Ben all the best in their next steps and are grateful for the opportunity to support them on their journey. Their story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of tailored support programs.

#YouthEmployment #SuccessStories #BuildingFutures #YES

“Inspire is amazing and awesome. It’s helped me gain confidence. When I started I wasn’t volunteering and now I am volunteering 4 days a week with SENSE.

Dennis came to Inspire when he was 18 years old when he was in a low place.

After his mum had passed away, and his sister moved out without notice, Dennis was left living in their family home alone. To avoid his feelings of loneliness, he would often spend 12 hours a day sitting on the seafront listening to music, and skipping meals to make his weekly food shop last.

At the brink of being kicked out, his leaving care worker found him his own accommodation, and told him about Inspire’s 12-week personal development programme.

Dennis thrived in the group environment, enjoying spending time as a team with others, especially being able to cook and clean with others.

After completing that, personal development coach Bill put Dennis forward to the Wellbeing service.

“He felt like I need to talk about stuff mental wise, he thought I wasn’t doing the best and would benefit from doing the sessions,” Dennis said. “It’s time I can talk about me and all the problems I’m going through, getting some advice and help.

Speaking about how much the sessions have helped him, Dennis added: “They’ve certainly put me in a better mood, I’ve been able to talk about this stuff for the first time, get advice and help, and just been able to smile more.

“I’ve been able to think back on the good times and not on the bad.

“The biggest change has been my happiness. I’m a lot happier now, I’m starting to see the best things in the smallest things.”

Keen to move forward, Dennis has applied to do his functional Maths and English as well as taking part in a warehouse bootcamp to come out with his forklift license.

Before using Inspire’s Youth Employment Service, Chantelle was being held back by her anxiety.

The 24-year-old was referred to the programme by the Department of Work and Pensions.

After meeting with YES coach Tony, she explained how she was also struggling with some personal and financial issues. He referred her to Inspire’s Wellbeing service which instantly saw a marked improvement in her confidence and general outlook.

He also set about helping her with her financial problems, including arranging for her to receive a washing machine, donated by a friend, and using our foodbank service Patrick to help her through some tough times.

With this giving her the breathing space she needed, Chantelle and Tony were able to work together to address her main issues, and look for work. During her time with us, Chantelle participated in our employment program, which she found incredibly beneficial. It significantly supported her drive to secure employment

Their efforts quickly paid off, with Chantelle quickly attending an interview in Norwich and securing herself a full time role in telemarketing.

Tony said: “Chantelle has all of the tools needed to succeed, she just needed a little support to get where she needs to go.”

“Inspire have helped me to believe I am capable of doing anything my heart desires,” Chantelle said. “I feel very motivated to keep up the success and to keep thinking positive.”

She added: “Tony is wonderful, he is very helpful and understanding. He is also very supportive with helping you achieve your goals.

“I have got a lot further from where I was and for that I am very grateful.”

“Chantelle has been a pleasure to work with, and I am sure that she will reach her potential and crack on from here,” Tony added.

Nadia’s journey with us has been truly inspiring. She first came to us through a referral from a mental health agency, seeking guidance on her path toward employment. Working closely with her care coordinator, we set up an initial meeting to explore her options, and Nadia expressed a strong interest in our 12-week Team Program. We felt this program could provide the confidence and direction she needed, and she committed to it wholeheartedly, showing remarkable growth along the way.

One pivotal moment for her was a residential trip to X Adventures, where she faced challenges she had previously thought were beyond her abilities, which significantly contributed to her personal development.

After completing the program, Nadia secured a temporary position with a family-run accounting firm. Although she was now employed and no longer officially on our caseload, we stayed in touch, aware that her role was temporary. When a Business IT apprenticeship at GMA became available, I encouraged her to attend an open day. She found the experience both insightful and motivating, which led her to apply. Her preparation and enthusiasm shone in the interview, earning her the apprenticeship.

I had the privilege of delivering the news of her success, and her excitement was evident—it was a proud and meaningful milestone in her journey. Three months later, while visiting another young person beginning an apprenticeship at GMA, I had the chance to reconnect with Nadia. She shared that she was genuinely enjoying her role and thriving in her new environment. Her journey beautifully illustrates resilience, growth, and the impact of supportive guidance.

Celebrating Billy’s journey of resilience and growth!  Starting out with a goal to secure a warehousing apprenticeship, Billy faced a challenging path—from a tour and two interviews to navigating the process of finding the right training partner with GMA. Being part of a new initiative came with its share of hurdles, but Billy’s determination pushed him through every step.

We are thrilled to share that Billy officially started his 18-month apprenticeship in mid-September! He’s now gaining hands-on experience and working toward his forklift licenses—a huge milestone in his career journey.

Just a month in, and Billy is thriving! He’s diving into every learning opportunity and showing incredible dedication. And it doesn’t stop there: Billy has also begun driving lessons and now dreams of owning his own car.  Witnessing him set and achieve these goals is a true inspiration!

Billy’s story reminds us that hard work, patience, and a positive mindset can make big dreams possible. We are so proud of him and all he’s accomplished!

George grew up in his Leiston whole life, he went to a pru school in Lowestoft. Prior to gaining his new role, George had a variety of jobs. Before he started working with YES, he wasn’t getting into work because he was just generally struggling and at times found is hard to find work or a job he wanted to do.

Day to day before YES, George was looking for work but said it never went past the CV or application point, which was a real struggle for him.

Simon spent time with George practising interview skills which not only built his confidence but gave me the confidence to ask questions especially as he had never done an interview before. Simon was able to help on areas that he was not so confident on which allowed him to thrive and get past the application stage.

George was offered a Night Warden Role and has already started. Good Luck George.

After losing her last job in 2022, Francesca felt like she had no hope in finding a new job. She felt isolated and had no confidence with leaving the house and was suffering from anxiety and lacked in confidence.

Francesca was referred to YES via our wellbeing service, she started working with Matt on a 121 basis and having these sessions allowed for her to get out of the house and build up her confidence. Matt was able to understand her needs of lacking in confidence and self-belief and listened to what she needed. At first the sessions focused on identifying personal values and learning to be assertive as the sessions progressed, the change in Francesca was huge and she was starting to believe in herself much more. The session then focused on career direction and there were many discussions on possible next steps and

Matt and Francesca looked at different sectors that Francesca was interested in. After working on her CV and building her confidence, she started to apply for jobs, one job in particular was the East Suffolk ambulance service. She was asked for an interview, which Matt tailored his sessions to focus on interview skills and prepare Francesca as much as possible for her interview.

Francesca’s interview went really well and she was offered the role of care assistant for East Suffolk Ambulance Service and will be trained in medical care response and advanced driving including blue light training. Not only has Francesca being able to start her life again but she can leave the house, she feels more confident and she can’t wait to start her new role.

Tarly joined us in October 2022, Simon was working with her for a few months to help build her confidence and support her onto her next steps.

Tarly has been in and out of foster care, which has resulted in her having low confidence and anxiety. She struggled at both school and college and dropped out when she felt college was not supporting her needs. Although she enjoyed her course, the college environment was too much and she struggled to focus.

Although Tarly hasn’t had much experience in the employment space, she is devoted to becoming a carer. Being in foster care, she has had lots of younger children she has always looked after, she was not sure what direction she wanted to follow but after numerous sessions Simon saw her passion and skill she had to thrive in the care sector.

Tarly is a young person who wants to share her journey in the hopes it will help others.

‘Simon reassured me that having an interview was not that bad and having that supportive person to guide me.. There are people out there who are afraid and embarrassed to ask for help but it is okay to ask for support and help. It is nice to know people are there to help‘.

Simon works closely with the DWP in Leiston, who has said they cannot believe the transformation in Tarly.

Good Luck in your new Job Tarly.

Millie came into YES wanting to start her career. She was ready and willing to work hard but just couldn’t find the right opportunities and struggled to understand where she was going wrong. Millie worked with Simon for a short period to look at her CV and areas where she needed support. Millie said she gave up looking for a job because her confidence was knocked after not hearing back from companies. Since starting with Simon, Millie had regular sessions which looked at her CV, interview techniques and much more. Simon encouraged Millie to apply for an apprenticeship role which she never thought of doing and was offered the role. ‘I applied for a Job that Simon suggested I go for and I got the job!’

‘I feel more confident because I didn’t think I would be able to be successful in an interview let alone get the job. Simon gave me a template and supported me on how to answer questions and give me confidence to be successful in that interview.’

‘Before YES, the biggest barrier for me was I didn’t get on with college, and I felt like it was stopping me from progressing’.

Not only has Millie gained more confidence in her ability but been able to secure a job she cannot wait to start. Good Luck Millie.

Matthew is someone who likes to spend time with his family and friends. He was staying at home and going out with friends also finding little jobs to help his dad with at home. Matthew lacked direction and felt like he was stuck in a rut also he lacked confidence and was in a position of struggling to find work. The main reason for this seemed to be Matthew’s confidence in interviews.

Matthew was then referred to the Youth Employment Service directly from the DWP. After explaining his situation to our Youth Employment Coach Matt, they booked some 121 sessions where they could focus solely on Matthew’s needs. They began by doing some sessions centred around interview skills and mock interviews focusing on the popular questions and how to break them down. They even roleplayed them and rotated the questions for each scenario. Matt could see from this that Matthew’s confidence was starting to emerge. He could see he wasn’t so worried about each question that he was going to face.

Matt and Matthew also had a session where they were able to look over Matthew’s CV making a few minor adjustments so that this would stand out.

While all of this was happening, Matthew was also going through some personal challenges and during a 121 with Matt, Matthew was visibly not himself.  Matt made it his focus this session to be a listening ear and provide him with any extra support he needed as he could tell that Matthew was going through a tough time. This session was very important for Matthew and helped him to continue moving forward with all the new skills he had been learning in his other 121 sessions.

From this Matthew got busy applying for jobs he had seen, and he did receive invitations to a few additional interviews from this.

Not long after one of the employers offered Matthew a job working as a kitchen assistant/pot washer at a restaurant called The Last Anchor. he now works 20 hours per week and they have offered to teach him the ropes in the kitchen with the potential to learn so much more.

His time with YES meant that Matthew was able to build up his confidence huge amounts and now finds himself not so worried about speaking to new people. This not only has helped him in the world of work it has also allowed him to make new friends in the process. Because of YES Matthew was also able to learn a lot of new skills including improving his confidence which he was able to use to his advantage in interviews.

Matthew would like to thank Matt his coach for all his support. He would also like to thank his friends and his parents for pushing him to keep on going and get himself a job.

Coaches Comments:

“Matthew is really flourishing in his new role as a kitchen assistant, and I visited him in his new place of work it’s a really nice restaurant on Quay in Ipswich and met some of his team who were really accommodating of my visit.”

Before joining YES, Ross felt lost and unsure of his next steps. He was constantly rejected by businesses and felt like he wasn’t given a chance, and it really knocked his confidence. Ross started working with Elisha, who guided and helped him understand what options were available and supported him in updating his CV alongside looking at skills building to build is confidence. ‘I feel so more confident and have a better understanding of my next steps.

Elisha supported Ross in securing a role as a gardening assistant, which is a role he felt really passionate about. He has been with YES for a while and was very particular about what he wanted to do but he has persevered and has finally got his dream job.

‘I would tell all young people to go for it, it gives you more guidance and helps you understand your next steps.’

Tai began his journey with us after he had finished college. He had very little confidence and no motivation to do anything. Every day being in his room playing video games and doing nothing saying himself that it was boring.

When Tai started working with YES, he had a few meetings with Simon before deciding that the team programme would be a good thing for his confidence and motivation. Tai attended the taster day with Simon and decided to start.

After Tai had completed the programme, he was more confident and had finally got some motivation he began to work with Simon more working on his CV and completing applications. After some more work with Simon Tai was offered an interview with a construction company which he went to and was very successful.

He was offered a trail shift with the company which he was at first very reluctant to take, however after some support and words of wisdom from Simon he took the opportunity. Safe to say he was very glad that Simon had convinced him to go to the trail as he is now working full time with the company and is being taught about all aspects of construction that he wanted to learn about.

Stephen’s journey has not been an easy one in August 2022 he was rushed to hospital with a catastrophic bleed on the brain which turned his life upside down. This left Stephen feeling like he was struck in a pit that he was unable to get out of. One of the biggest barriers being a lack in self confidence and motivation due to him only just coming out of hospital. He himself saying that he didn’t have the will to do anything and was sitting at home all day very rarely doing any activities.

Stephen began working with YES who he says helped him to find a sense of purpose and helped and supported him with all the needs he needed to grow. His main needs at the time being his self-confidence as well as helping to find him something to do while he was in a state of limbo.

Stephen joined the Team Programme where he wanted to make new friends and gain new skills, knowledge and experiences. All of which he was able to do when completing the 12-week course

Stephen has since been working with Simon and has now secured himself a job as an activity’s instructor at PGL. He will be completing full training in Devon and is really excited for all the new opportunities.

John loves nothing more than the outside, going on bike rides, long walks, and spending time with his family. Other than family John didn’t socialise with many people and confidence and communication was something that he struggled with.

Before stating with YES john was at college doing catering which he passed in July 2022. However, John had been at college for 4 years where he had also completed his maths and English. John said that this was a good experience and that he loved every part of it however it was time to start looking for some other things away from the college. This is when john met Tony in the September of 2022. After working with Tony for a short amount of time Tony could see that John was struggling with is communication and found out about how he didn’t socialise so suggested that he took part in the Team Programme which he did.

While on the Team Programme John overcame many things and had some great experiences. While on the Team Programme John also got to go on the residential which for someone who loved the outdoors as much as he did was an amazing experience with his highlights being the zip line and ladder run. He was also able to make some friend and began to socialise with them both on the programme as well as outside the programme. This also helped him to hugely improve on his confidence as well as how he was communicating. Before coming into the service John had no work experience which was something that he was also able to get from his time on Team Programme. He had a placement at The Unity Centre where he was supervising, supporting in giving information as well as working with people and gaining valuable people skills.

After completing the team programme John began to do some more work with Tony and they were able to find some course that were perfectly suited for what John wanted to do. Since then, John has now completed 4 of these courses and has really found his green thumb. Some of the courses includes a sow and grow as well as a waling through time course which he is still doing now.

After working with Tony and completing the Team Programme John has said that he feels he has conquered fears, developed his practical skills, improved his communication and is much more motivated but most importantly john has said that he has hugely improved his confidence.

John is still completing his courses and is working with Tony to look into finding some apprenticeships in his chosen sector. As he feels that this would be a very good next step for him.

Before starting her journey with Inspire was doing nothing after she had been in Education. She completed school and came away with GCSEs. She had also been to college where she achieved BTEC qualifications and enjoyed her time there. Unfortunately for Lucy her next steps after college didn’t go quite as planned as she attended Stafford University which she had to drop out of due to her mental health at the time. She has said it was important for her to drop out at the time to find herself as she felt this was something that had become lost. At this time, she was planning to do an apprenticeship which is how she met Cathy of Apprenticeships Suffolk at the Job Centre.

Cathy at the time was working with The Youth Employment Services on a Project and referred Lucy to us. Lucy then met Tony at Colville House where they spoke about Lucy’s options. This was when she expressed – “I wanted to come out of my shell” Hearing this Tony suggested that Lucy did the Team Programme. Lucy decided that this would be a good idea and did the 12-week programme.

While doing this Lucy learnt some valuable skills and gained plenty of personal achievements. She hugely improved her confidence, became more resilient, made lots of new friends and connected with some old and was also able to improve her teamwork skills.

Lucy said “It was difficult but enjoyable” when asked about her time on the programme.

After the programme, Lucy was able to regain a position at Stafford University which she previously attended and will be heading there to do a 3-year law course. She also went back to Tony to get some further support before she headed off to university where they worked together to create a cover letter to go with her CV to help her when it came to applying for jobs in and around the area of the university.

Lucy Would like to thank Jenni for putting up with her and the team while they were on the programme. She would also like to thank Tony for being a laugh and making everyone really happy.

She would also like to share her thanks to everyone at Inspire for being supportive through everything.

Tom lives with his mum and brother. He has autism and a mild hearing issue and suffers from anxiety. Tom got through school with level 1’s and 2’s in English and Maths and has been working 6 hours a week at his local convenience store.

Before starting with Inspire Tom says he lacked direction and was not sure what he wanted to do with his life. He also felt that both his autism and anxiety were holding him back and stopping him from seeking the help that he needed.

In April 2023 Tom’s work coach at the job centre mentioned Inspire and he began to work with Lisa a little later. At their first meeting, Tom and Lisa discussed a multitude of things including his overall wellbeing. After this discussion, Lisa suggested that Tom be referred to Inspire Wellbeing Service, which he did. Another thing that Lisa and Tom discussed was Tom’s interests, where Lisa learned about Tom’s interest in music.

This led them to explore courses at college such as a performing arts course at Suffolk New College, but Tom quickly decided that this wasn’t the course for him. They also explored the options of work experience and volunteering with the likes of Leiston Film Theatre. Unfortunately for Tom, they didn’t have any opportunities at the time. This led them to go back to exploring college courses where they looked into Media or games and esports. From this, Tom liked the look of the media course and with Lisa’s support he applied.

Once Tom had been accepted onto the course he and Lisa looked into how he was going to get to the college. After looking into this they decided that the bus would be the best option. After this was decided to overcome his travel anxieties Lisa took a bus journey with Tom to Saxmundham and back to see how he got on. Lisa was also able to arrange for Tom to get a laptop through The Ropes Trust to support him in his studies as well as help to organise a travel bursary and apply for an EHCP.

Tom attended his taster day at Suffolk New College in June, on his travelling there and back by bus, which was a huge achievement for himSince then, he has attended an interview with the course leader and attended the enrolment day again on his own, travelling to and from there by bus.

Tom is now attending Suffolk New College, to complete his Level 1 Media course as well as a Maths GCSE and English Functional Skills course. He has said that he is really enjoying being at college.

Tom has said that working with Inspire’s Youth Employment Service and Wellbeing Service has helped him to overcome his anxiety and how to deal with it better. He would like to thank Lisa for all her help and support throughout his time on YES.

Torree currently lives at home with her mum, dad, and sister. She struggles with her anxiety and even left school in year 9 due to her anxieties. Because of this, she felt as if she was being held back from being able to move forward in education as well as life in general. This meant she was not going out very often and found it really difficult to socialise.

Her anxieties continued through to now where she met Lisa our YES Personal Development Coach. Although she was still anxious when she started working with YES, Lisa was able to pull Torree out of her shell. They discussed opportunities within Inspire which is when Lisa mentioned both Inspires Online Achieve Summer Programme and Inspires Wellbeing Service. From these conversations, Torree decided to sign up for both.

Torree successfully completed the Online Achieve Programme. She was even able to turn on her camera and talk into the microphone during the last session which for her was a huge win! Not only was Jay the programme tutor proud of her for doing this she also found this to be a huge personal achievement and was extremely proud of herself.

After finishing the Achieve Programme Torree and Lisa went back to discussing her next steps. Lisa suggested that Torree do the Inspires Princes Trust Team Programme to improve her confidence even further. However, despite thinking this would benefit her Torree decided she would like to get back into education and go back to college. Both Torree and Lisa from here were able to look into possible courses that would be in Torree’s chosen sector.

These were photography or something around gardening and landscaping. It was at this point that Lisa found a course at East Coast College called Grow and Mow. With this course, Torree would also be able to study both her English and Maths. So, with Lisa’s help, Torree applied for these and was accepted.

Torree was asked what the highlights of her time with Inspire would be and she has said that becoming more confident, beginning to overcome her anxieties, and having Lisa by her side to provide support, help and guidance.

Torree would like to thank Jay for his support during the Achieve Programme. Lisa for all her help with providing information, and guidance and helping her to build up her confidence. She would also like to thank her mum, dad and Early Help Team workers Jo and Lydia for all of their help with everything.

Teddy moved to Suffolk about two years ago. He felt after moving that he had nobody around him apart from his family and their 2 cats.

He has suffered with his mental health since school. Due to this it meant that he barley attended year 11 just being able to scrape through his GCSE’s. This also meant that he also found he was too anxious to start college once he had left school.

After leaving school Teddy found himself at home doing nothing. He would only leave the house to go to the shops. He had signed himself up to a Life skills course however this didn’t go to plan, and he was unable to start due to no fault of his own.

To start his journey Teddy met with Both Jenni the Youth Development Tutor for the Princes Trust Team Programme and with Tony the Youth Employment Coach from the Youth Employment Service. The first meeting was difficult as Teddy is a selective mute and would only communicate through post it notes. For the first meeting both Tony and Jenni made it their mission to make sure Teddy felt comfortable even if he didn’t want to speak at the time.

After a few meetings with Jenni and Tony. Teddy decided to sign up for the team programme, where he completed his level 1. While being on the Team Programme Teddy also began attending Social Space. This is where those who are looking for a comfortable and inviting place to unwind and have fun with friends. The drop-in sessions offer a safe and inclusive environment for all young people, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Doing the level 1 programme allowed Teddy to make new friends and, he came out of his shell he felt more confident. By the end of the programme Teddy was able to deliver a speech to a room full of people which was a huge step in his journey

After completing the Level one Programme Teddy began to attend Tony Tuesdays which were wellbeing workshops where he was able to meet with new people and continue progressing like he had done on the Team Programme. By doing this Teddy decided that it would be good for him to the level 2 team programme which he is still currently completing now.

Teddys top 3 things about his time with Team Programme and the Youth Employment Service were making friends, going on the Team residential as he says it was good to be away in the fresh air away from everything. His third highlight was being able to come to a place that has a good environment and to be able to use the facilities such as the kitchen.

Teddy has now gained employment working on the checkouts at Tesco’s. He has said he looks forward to starting this roll to gain new experiences.

Before working with Inspire and The Youth Employment Service found himself stuck in a vicious cycle made worse by the struggles from the pandemic. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic Jack was struggling with his mental health and had disengaged from his education at the time. This moving into the pandemic left Jack feeling very low and struggling to leave the house he said “It was very suffocating. It was the same thing again and again”. He felt as if everything was getting worse but at the same time staying the same.

Jack was introduced to Inspire and the Youth Employment Service by the Early Help Team and met with Simon at Felixstowe Library with his mum. In this first meeting, Jack and Simon were able to discuss the Support that the Youth Employment Service could offer. As well as talking about the Team Programme because Simon could see that this would be beneficial for Jack. It was at this initial meeting that Jack decided to give the Team Programme a go. He said, “It felt like a door literally opened to something else life could hold.”

Completing the Team Programme for Jack was a whole new world full of good and different. Not only did it allow him to meet new people, but it allowed him to get into a regular routine while visiting new places which were outside of the four walls of his own home. He has said that this “felt like a whole new world”. By doing Team and breaking all these barriers Jack was also able to build on his social skills and improve his confidence.

After completing the Team Programme Jack continued working with Simon but quickly decided that he wanted to get back into education. He will now be starting at Suffolk New College doing English, Maths, and a Level 1 Digital Skills course. Once he has completed these he will be looking to get into his passion of linguistics.

Livi came to the Youth Employment Service after being jobless for three years. After attending the Job centre to sign up for Universal Credit, Livi was introduced to Simon.

At the time, Livi had recently started some part time work at café. Although she was very happy with this, she was still striving to do more and progress in her career.

One of the main things that Livi was struggling with was the rejections from places she had applied for – she’d had no luck to the point she was beginning to give up. This was when Simon stepped in and instilled in her the importance of persevering.

Simon noted that Livi might be able to make improvements to her CV to increase employer interest. After working for together on this they uploaded the CV to Indeed where the new and improved CV attracted plenty of new work. Unfortunately, however, this still wasn’t the type of work that Livi was looking for.

Nevertheless, while working with the Youth Employment Service, Livi got the opportunity for a second small part time role in which she is a cleaner. She has now been given her opportunity to take this work on full time from September which she is looking forward too. She has said this has helped her start looking at her future more logically and is beginning to think things will work out for her. After starting full time in September, Livi is looking to take some driving lessons and take her test to make commuting easier.

When asked, Livi said she would recommend the service to other young people as there is no judgement and everyone is very patient and understanding in helping you to get somewhere.

Jae found themselves at a crossroads after completing sixth form. Despite receiving an offer from Canterbury University, Jae lacked the confidence and life skills necessary to feel ready to pursue higher education.

Struggling with self-doubt , Jae grappled with the decision of whether to pursue their offer at Canterbury University. Feelings of anxiety were holding them back and they couldn’t imagine that they’d be able to fully throw themselves into the university experience in the same way as some of their peers.

Jae’s journey with the Youth Employment Service began after a referral from the Woodbridge Job Centre. Working closely with Simon, they set out to build the confidence and life skills they felt they were lacking. Simon’s recommendation of the Team Programme proved a instrumental in helping Jae overcome social anxiety and develop essential teamwork and communication skills.

Completing the Team Programme was a significant turning point for Jae, enabling them to navigate social situations. Through Simon’s guidance, Jae discovered opportunities for community engagement, including involvement in arts projects at Dove St Studios Open Arts Sessions in Ipswich. Exposure to these experiences, coupled with Simon’s encouragement, ultimately helped Jae to reconsider their decision about not attending university.

Overcoming self-imposed limitations, Jae’s journey saw them develop confidence and a newfound sense of purpose. Their experience shows the importance of seeking guidance and stepping out of your comfort zone to unlock new opportunities. We wish them the best as they head off to Fresher’s Week to start their university experience in Canterbury!

Chloe had a remarkable academic track record highlighted by triple distinction in her Level 3 Business course at Suffolk One. Her dedication and hard work earned her recognition as the most improved student of the year during her time at college but she was at a standstill.

Despite her academic achievements, Chloe faced challenges in navigating the transition from education to the workplace. She struggled to find a job or apprenticeship that aligned with her interests and aspirations and didn’t know what to do to move on to the next stage of her life.

Chloe’s path crossed with Youth Employment Coach, Simon, during a CV workshop in Felixstowe. Recognising Chloe’s potential, Simon provided personalised support in refining her CV and navigating the job market. With the help of YES, Chloe gained confidence and direction in searching and applying for jobs.

Thanks to Simon’s guidance, Chloe successfully secured a position with A&S Recruitment – a testament to her perseverance and the effectiveness of the support we provide young people each and every day. Chloe’s journey from uncertainty to employment shows the importance of support and guidance for young people at transitional periods in their lives.

Chloe’s journey serves as inspiration for others navigating the transition from education to the workforce, and shows the value of mentorship and support in achieving professional goals.

Jasmine uprooted her life when she moved from Wales to Lowestoft three years ago. While in Wales Jasmine struggled in school due to a lack of support around her anxiety. She had very low attendance and left school with lower grades than she was capable of.

She found herself in a new area with very little qualifications, and eventually found a Kickstart scheme through the Job Centre. While this provided some sense of security, once it ended she felt she was back at square one with no plan on how to move forwards.

It was at this point where she met Cathy from Apprenticeships Suffolk who recommended Inspire.

Before meeting Inspire, Jasmine faced several challenges, including a lack of confidence, difficulty in making friends since moving to Suffolk, and the need to improve her interview and leadership skills. These obstacles had hindered her personal and professional development and left her feeling lost.

Working with YES and completing the Team Programme has helped Jasmine to make new friends and it has also hugely improved her confidence. Surprisingly, she discovered her leadership skills, a quality she hadn’t realised she possessed. Working closely with Tony to improve her job skills also allowed her to gain valuable interview skills, which further benefited her professional growth.

After being on Team and working with YES, Jasmine is hoping to start working for Better Healthcare where she will be a support worker working with young people who have learning difficulties. Jasmine’s interview with Better Healthcare went exceedingly well, and she received praise for her impressive performance, highlighting the positive impact of her personal growth and newly acquired skills.

”Everything was fun and helped me to make friends in the area”

Overcoming challenges, Jasmine gained confidence, made new friends, and discovered her strengths. This has allowed her to gain a better understanding on the path she wants to travel with her future career and helped her uncover a passion for helping the community.

Her positive experience showcases the significance of young people having opportunities to hone their skills and discover passions so they can continue on the path to success after education.

Jasmine extends her gratitude to everyone involved in her journey with Inspire and the Youth Employment Service.