Building Connections Celebration Event & Video Launch
Earlier this month, young people from across GMYN’s programmes came together with funders, staff and supporters to celebrate their achievements on the Building Connections Project.
Over the past few months, The Building Connections Project has hosted sessions with young people across Greater Manchester exploring employability – culminating in our celebration event and video launch.
“The impact and confidence built in the young people from the first meeting we attended to the wrap up session and performance – the difference was extremely visible to us.”
Feedback from employers reflecting on what they enjoyed most about the project.
Throughout the course of the project, we opened up conversations between young people from across GMYN’s programmes and employers from a range of different industries. Based on questions and topics put forward by young people, they discussed job searching, application processes, interview techniques and workplace culture – gathering loads of useful tips and pieces of advice. Young people also shared their experiences of finding work with employers, helping develop employer awareness of the challenges young people face when seeking employment. With direction from the young people, these conversations were captured on film and collated into a series of short films.
“How we approach recruitment is not always the most accessible – the young people taught me about employability and the way that businesses need to be more accessible, adaptable, diverse and inclusive.”
An employer reflecting on what they’ve learnt from the young people during the project.
Take a look at the series of videos young people put together as part of the project – from top tips for finding work to first steps into employment:
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.
Learn more
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.
Learn more
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.
Learn more
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.
Learn more
The Building Connection Project sessions took place in a range of different locations, including networking workshops at regular GMYN delivery spaces, world of work visits to businesses such as The Big Yellow Self Storage Company and the celebration event hosted at local street food venue and event space Grub.
“The journey of employment from first jobs to where employers are today (the how and why, failures and successes). Understanding the value in different roles as part of the progression to a chosen career path.”
A young person reflecting on what they’ve learnt during the project
The celebration event was a chance for young people to reflect on what they have learnt and shared with employers during the project. As well as showcasing the films, members of GMYN’s Youth Voice Group performed a series of drama sketches, demonstrating the struggles faced by young people when entering the workforce. There was also some spoken word performances, where young people spoke about their lived experiences of finding work after education.
“The difficulties young people are currently facing to get into employment. Hearing personal testimonies and poems was very eye-opening.”
Feedback reflecting on what people took away from the Celebration Event performances
This project wouldn’t have been possible without funding and support from project partners UK Youth and Coca Cola. Thank you for your work on the project and helping make sure #YoungPeopleCan
A huge thank you also goes out to the volunteers from the following organisations: Compass Marketing, Assent Building Control, Slater Heelis, Weightmans, h2h, Bury Council, Civil Service, Manchester Museum, Big Yellow, The University of Manchester and Grub (who were fantastic hosts for our final event in their beautiful cinema space). Your time and experience helped make this project a reality.
And of course a huge congratulations goes out to the young people, including the GMYN Youth Voice Group, for the commitment, creativity and enthusiasm shown throughout their time working on the project.
Related stories
Building Connections Event
HATCH Employability Programme Relaunches for 2023
