What We Do

The Employment Gap: A Statistical Reality

The statistics are staggering. Even amoung those care leavers who secure employment job stability, and quality remain serious concerns. Research from The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee indicates that care -experienced young people are:

1. More likely to be employed in precarious, temporary positions

2. Overrepresented in minimum wage and zero-hour contract roles

3. More frequently employed in sectors with limited advancement opportunities

4. 22% of care leavers aged 27 are in employment, compared to 57% of others

This employment instability has profound financial implications. The cumulative effect of this disparity means many care-experienced adults face lifelong economic disadvantage, with implications for housing security, physical and mental health, and overall quality of life.

The employment disparity between care leavers and their peers represents one of the stark indicators of systemic inequality i nour society

40%

Of care leavers in London aged 19 - 21 are not in education, employment or training, significantly exceeding the rate for young people who haven't experienced care, compared to 13% of the general population

£6,000.00

For those care leavers that are employed, they face earning an everage of £6,000.00 less than their peers, a wage gap only set to increase through thier careers

Just 2% of care leavers go on do do apprenticeships. And that is where WE come in...

2%

Creative Opportunities Ahead

We empower care-experienced youth by providing them with the tools and resources to explore diverse creative career paths. Our programs connect our youth to opportunities that not only enhance their professional skills but also foster self awareness, self-fulfillment and natural creativity.

We believe in nurturing their unique talents and perspectives by fostering an environment that supports, encourages mistakes, and takes the sting out of failure. We aim to inspire a pursuit in their newly discovered passions enabling them to achieve their career aspirations, paving the way for a brighter, more hopeful future.

Empower Youth

Internal / External Development

The journey emphasizes the importance of developing essential skills and building internal resilience among care-experienced youth. Through a combination of AI mentorship and the development of both practical soft skills and hard skills through partnerships with external training providers, we offer tailored upskilling that aligns with industry demands so participants gain the tools necessary to confidently navigate the creative workforce.

Our Process

1. Experience Informed Design: Our approach is built on understanding the complexity of foster care. We prioritize stability, identity development, and mental health as foundational elements, building essential soft skills for workplace success. We're developing innovative AI-powered tools to provide personalized 1 to 1 mentoring and coaching, ensuring support is both accessible and responsive to individual needs.

2. Quality Career Pathways: We focus exclusively on carefully researched sectors with clear advancement potential and non-degree pathways. Our initial pathways in Film/TV Production and Graphic Design are pathways that ensure genuine opportunity for progression without traditional educational barriers.

3. Integrated Support System: Unlike traditional services, we provide holistic support addressing factors affecting career success—such as mental health, financial capability, and social connections. This comprehensive approach ensures that non-work challenges don't derail employment progress.

4. Strategic Training Partnerships: Rather than duplicating existing training, we develop partnerships with existing education providers, multiplying the quality and range of professional development our care leavers can access.

5. Premium Employer Partnership Model: Our employers view our apprentices as valuable talent assets rather than charity cases. Our tailored training and AI coaching ensures our young people arrive with technical capabilities, workplace readiness, and internal confidence for success from day one.

6. Long-Term Career Development: We offer ongoing support for credential attainment and skill development, enabling career progression. This enables boundaryless career growth rather than basic entry-level job placement.

7. Youth-Led Co-Design: We involve young people in program development.

As we connect our youth to creative apprenticeships and opportunities, they then evolve in their roles. We support their transformation into mentors, enabling them to share their knowledge and experiences with others. This holistic approach not only enhances their confidence and expertise but also enriches the community by creating a cycle of learning and experiential mentorship that benefits all.

Apprentice to Mentor