New employability campaign launched: Back on Track

This week, as schools go back across London, we are launching our new big appeal, Back on Track. We need your support to help us change the lives of 40,000 young Londoners from low income and Black, Asian and Minority backgrounds.

COVID-19 has made life even harder for London’s young people. They have missed out on schooling, crucial careers advice and face an uncertain future. Many have told us that they feel “scared” and “overwhelmed” by the prospect of starting a career at this time. The disadvantage gap is widening at a horrifying rate.

STEP UP NOW TO HELP YOUNG LONDON

Our work helps young Londoner’s build their confidence levels, learn new skills and improve their employment prospects. Will you help us? The following donations would enable:

• £50 – 20 young people to meet industry leaders and hear from businesses who are hiring
• £100 – 50 young people to receive advice, guidance and career tips from diverse role models
• £5,000 – 1 school to be included in the Access Aspiration programme (whole sixth form)

Our employment programmes are providing urgent, coordinated action to improve young Londoners’ access to employment.

Creativity Works, supported by the Berkeley Foundation and Citi Foundation, is a high impact arts-based programme engages young Londoners between 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training. Since first developed, Creativity Works has supported over 700 young Londoners, with a further 100 due by the end of 2020. Almost two-thirds of participants move into employment, education or training as a result of taking part.

Since lockdown, over 600 students took part in our Access Aspiration webinars, hosted by professionals from Audible Amazon, Barclays, Twitter, the BBC, M&C Saatchi, the Bank of England and many more. One student said: “I expected it to be a hard and tough world out there, and it is, but being here has made me want to be a part of something bigger and, to grow with all that there is to offer”.

This academic year, we are delighted to expand our network of leading businesses, which now include the Nice to Meet You Foundation and self-storage company Shurgard, to offer even more unique and enriching employer insights.

Businesses signed up to Access Aspiration will take part in events and webinars supporting young adults from low-income households in London with work experience, interview preparation and CV writing. If you are an employer who would like to do more, please contact our Director of Development, Louise Richmond, at lrichmond@mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk.

Thank you for your support.