2025 Summer Newsletter
A note from our CEO:
As this academic year comes to an end, we would like to update you on some highlights from the summer term and the 2024/25 academic year.
As always, our priority has been delivering high quality coaching programmes to young people who need our support the most.
This academic year we were delighted to launch our first ever research reports, outlining evidence from our work with young adults with learning disabilities and young Black people who are at risk of exclusion. These reports are part of our strategic goal to share our expertise and evidence to encourage wider change. If you missed them, you can read them here.
Although the school year is coming to an end, our work isn’t over as we will be supporting young people over the summer holidays through UK Youth’s Summer Jobs programme. The programme offers the invaluable opportunity of paid work placements to young people, supporting them to develop their work readiness and gain experience to add to their CVs, whilst earning a wage.
Programme Delivery:
Our FutureMe Programme:
Supporting young people who face barriers to employment
This term, Year 10 students on our FutureMe programme took part in our business mentoring programme, where they benefit from visiting one of our business partners and being mentored by a professional. During the sessions they develop their first CVs and practise mock interviews, whilst building their confidence entering professional settings.
“The best thing about having a mentor is having someone to talk to that’s understanding and has experience of work. They’ve gone through more stuff than me so can give me advice on what to do.”
– Daisy, FutureMe student
Our Making Strides Programme:
Supporting young people with learning disabilities and autism
This term, young people on our Making Strides programme have been receiving one-to-one coaching, going on work experience placements and some students have taken part in our Extended Recruitment Programme with DHL.
We are currently accepting referrals for our Making Strides programme for young adults in London to start the programme in September 2025. Young adults are eligible if they are:
- 16-24 years old
- have a mild to moderate learning disability
- have been NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) for 10 months or will be NEET at their next point of transition
- have an aspiration for paid work
- have the ability to travel to attend support sessions in Islington.
To refer a young person who you think would benefit from our support, please click here.
Our Future Leaders programme:
Supporting Black young people and South Asian young women at risk of excusion
In November 2024 we launched our research report, outlining findings from Phase One of the programme. You can read it here.
This term we were delighted to deliver our business mentoring programme to all 251 young people on the programme. Young people met with Black and South Asian professionals to hear advice, career guidance and their lived experiences navigating the world of work.
“My mentor was an amazing lady. She talked to me in a kind way and gave me advice, she opened my eyes that there are people that can help me. Today has broadened my thoughts. The mentors aren’t telling you what you need to do, they are trying to find a way for you to realise it yourself and then they top it up to give you ways to do it and what you should do to stay on the right track.”
– Tyreik, Future Leaders student
Expanding our work to the youth justice sector:
We are excited to be adapting our expertise to support even more underserved young people. We are pleased to announce we are working with the Youth Custody Service to plan co-production with young people in a Young Offender Institution, to help us understand the barriers they face when leaving these institutions and entering into Employment, Education or Training, and design a programme shaped by the experiences of young people. The project will also involve us collaborating with multiple stakeholders working across Youth Custody Services, Youth Offending Teams and education. We are grateful to The Worshipful Company of Weavers and The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust for funding this work. We look forward to sharing more updates with you about this exciting new project in the near future.
Youth Participation:
London Youth Gold Quality Mark
In April, we were delighted to be awarded the London Youth Gold Quality Mark. This award recognises our commitment to involving young people in decision-making and celebrates the quality of our youth work provision. London Youth has over 500 members and ThinkForward are one of 9 members to have achieved this award, demonstrating our dedication to youth participation.
Youth Advisory Board
Our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) members have had a very productive year. Their main project has been designing a resource about co-production with adults. This term, YAB members also had the opportunity to contribute to a thinktank inquiry that will be presented to the government.
Amin, YAB member, said the best part was “having the space to talk about the things we need to talk about and knowing we can have an impact on the future for people like us.”
Fundraising:
Big Give Campaign
We are thrilled to have achieved our Big Give Champions for Children Campaign target of £40,000. These funds are vital for us to continue our work supporting young people who are most in need of extra support to help them transition into employment. A huge thank you on behalf of everyone at ThinkForward to everyone who generously donated or shared our campaign with your networks – we really appreciate your support. We would also like to say a huge thank you to our trustee Keith Macdonald, who recently completed an 8-day trek in the Swedish Artic Circle and raised over £6,000 for ThinkForward.