A six-month route from support to skills, confidence and progression
Are you supporting a young person who would benefit from meaningful work experience, employability development and a structured next step?
The Future Pathways Work Experience & Employability Pathway is a six-month programme for young people who want to build confidence, develop practical skills and prepare for education, training, employment or enterprise.
Based at Riverside Youth Centre in Deptford, participants gain experience across the real operational areas of Proud to Be Me CIC, including:
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Salon management and customer experience
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Marketing and content creation
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Business development and enterprise
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Finance and budgeting
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Research
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Fundraising
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Employability and workplace skills
This is a real-world pathway—not simulated work experience.
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This pathway may be suitable for young people who would benefit from:
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Structured work experience
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A supportive working environment
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Building confidence and workplace communication
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Developing a routine and professional expectations
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Exploring career interests
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Building evidence for a CV or future application
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Preparing for further education, training or employment
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Exploring enterprise or self-employment
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Additional support while developing workplace readiness
Young people do not need to know exactly what career they want before joining.
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The Work Experience & Employability Pathway is separate from our specialist Future Pathways Alternative Provision.
An EHCP is not required, and referrals can be made by a range of organisations, including:
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Youth services
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Community organisations
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Charities
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Employability programmes
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Social prescribing services
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Supported housing organisations
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Leaving-care and transition services
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SEND organisations
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Training and progression services
What Participants Gain
What Participants Gain
Participants will have the opportunity to:
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Develop practical workplace skills
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Build confidence and independence
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Improve communication and teamwork
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Learn about professional expectations
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Explore different areas of work
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Complete meaningful projects
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Receive feedback and guidance
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Build a Work Experience Portfolio
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Develop a CV and prepare for interviews
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Create an individual progression plan
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Work Experience Portfolio
Throughout the programme, each participant will build a portfolio showing what they have done and how they have progressed.
This may include:
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Practical activities
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Completed projects
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Supervisor observations
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Skills development
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Reflective work
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Attendance and engagement
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Employability evidence
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Achievements
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Progress reviews
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Individual progression planning
The portfolio can support applications for further education, training, apprenticeships, employment or enterprise.
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Personalised Support
Every placement is shaped around the participant’s:
Interests + Strengths + Needs + Skills + Goals + Progression
One participant may focus on marketing and content creation. Another may explore salon operations, business development, finance, fundraising or community work.
The aim is to provide a meaningful pathway that helps each young person move forward.
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Additional Support
Additional support may be commissioned separately, including:
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Functional Skills in English and/or Maths
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Speech and Language Therapy
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Counselling
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Other agreed support based on individual need
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How Referrals Work
1. Referral submitted
The referring organisation shares relevant information about the young person.
2. Referral reviewed
We consider their needs, interests, goals and support requirements.
3. Initial discussion
Where needed, we speak with the young person, referrer and/or parent or carer.
4. Suitability decision
We decide whether the pathway is appropriate and can safely meet the young person’s needs.
5. Placement plan agreed
This includes the start date, attendance pattern, goals, work experience areas, support and funding arrangements.
6. Placement begins
The young person starts their six-month pathway.
7. Progress reviews
Progress is monitored and the placement can be adapted where appropriate.
8. Progression planning
We work with the participant and relevant partners to identify their next step.