United Futures, an initiative to encourage businesses to
work with youth organisations, launched earlier this year. Here
Lucy Allen from UK Youth explains how firms are getting
involved.
Did you know that small businesses - unlike larger
employers - have relatively little involvement with
organisations that support young people outside of school?
This revelation comes as a the United Futures campaign,
which aims to make it easier for employers and youth organisations
to collaborate, announces a series of networking events, designed
to bring together local businesses and youth projects.
The project has identified seven key areas where businesses of
any size can use their expertise and resources to directly benefit
young people. The areas are:
- Volunteering
- Work experience
- Other activities involving young people such as workplace
visits
- Training and expertise
- Governance and management
- In-kind donations
- Financial support
We have spoken to a couple of local businesses and entrepreneurs
about how they are supporting young people in the community.
The Step Up! Project in Macclesfield works to match local
business leaders with young people in a mentoring capacity. One of
the mentors, Phillip Shaw, runs a catering start-up called
Fork2Plate. Having left school with few qualifications he went on
to become a professional chef.
"As a person who struggled throughout my education it was not
until I turned 50 that I found out why - I suffer from dyslexia. I
made adjustments and put systems in place to help me cope. I have
first-hand experience of failing but this never stopped me from
having a career," he says.
Shaw felt that this experience gave him the sufficient
know-how to inspire others. In just a few months of being a mentor
for an unemployed local youth, the young person has stopped smoking
and appears more motivated about finding work. He is also now
thinking of pursuing a career in horticulture whereas before a flat
"I don't know" would be heard when asked what he would like to do
in later life.
"It's so rewarding to pass on these skills and watch
someone benefit from your experience and support," says Shaw.
Similarly, fundraising and volunteering are other highly
effective ways that local businesses can make a big difference to
young people, which in turn have associated business benefits.
Gareth Mepham runs The Wayz youth project in Berkshire, which
supports young people with moderate learning difficulties. He
receives support from a local branch of engineering company
Cadence. The company donates resources and prizes for club
activities and events. A member of senior management also sits on
their board.
The business has greatly benefited from the partnership. "We
encourage employees to take an active part in charitable events
that support the local community. This enriches them with greater
knowledge and understanding of the community where they work and
also helps the community get a better understanding of what we're
all about," explains Carol Staniford from Cadence. "As an
employee, knowing that you are working for an organisation that
takes social responsibility seriously, can be a key contributor to
an individual's overall job satisfaction and a reason to want to
work there."
United Futures is a Department of Education funded initiative
led by the charities Business in the Community, National Children's
Bureau and UK Youth. It aims to make it easier for employers
and youth organisations to work together to support young people
across England. Since launching in January 2012 it has mobilised
the national support of Accenture, the British Council of Shopping
Centre's, HSBC, Land Securities, O2, Samsung, Starbucks and VISA
Europe.
To find out more about United Futures or to attend an event in
your area, contact Lucy Allen on lucy@ukyouth.org or 0203 137
2911.
Follow United Futures on Twitter, @United_Futures