My role at Making The Leap is working as a Progression Coach. I joined at the beginning of June 2017. I deliver the ACE workshop (Aspirations & Character Education Programme) to groups of young people and provide 1-2-1 support for those who have successfully become Fellows after the programme. We run the three-week training programme here at the Harriet Tubman House premises. The purpose of the workshop is to assist in highlighting the skills which I believe young people already possess, and encouraging them to feel confident in developing these.

In my short time here, I have already begun to witness the positive impact this workshop has had on these young adults. The workshop offers a sense of greater aspiration and has helped to build on the character, self-esteem, and confidence. Inevitably, these skills will be vital in attaining good jobs and successful futures. I feel honoured to be a part of these young people’s lives and to observe their journeys of transformation is extremely fulfilling.

Some of the biggest challenges I believe young people in 2017 are faced with is competition and being able to overcome these by thinking about the actions that best support them towards their goals. Employers value experience, which I think leaves young people in a catch 22 position, no experience – no job, no job – no experience. In my experience, work experience has been a vital part of my journey. I’ve had to be willing to learn new skills, and to work differently, and put myself in to various roles to really grasp what that role entails. This has helped me gain some valuable practical experience in an industry and giving me a chance to make more an informed choice about my future. Also it has given me the opportunity to realise that a certain field of work is not something I would like to pursue any further.