Double the impact of your donation this December

Our Big Give Christmas Campaign is returning for a second year runnning with all donations to GMYN being doubled this festive season.

From Tuesday 2nd December to Tuesday 9th December, we’re aiming to raise £20,000 to support care-experienced, disabled and neurodivergent young people across Greater Manchester take their first step in employment.

Too many young people are struggling to find their place in the world of work. Care-experienced young people are three times more likely to be out of education, employment or training. Disabled and neurodivergent young people also face additional barriers such as inaccessible recruitment and onboarding practices. The young people we work with often face this journey alone, without the safety nets others rely on. 

Our work readiness programmes ensure every young person gets the support they need from a trusted youth worker who can help them grow in confidence, develop skills and raise their aspirations.

 We offer:

• Group sessions to develop teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills
• 1:1 career planning and trauma informed emotional support 
• Paid work placements and world of work visits 
• Support to employers looking to become more inclusive 

Our work readiness programmes help care-experienced, disabled and neurodivergent young people build the essential skills, confidence and resilience needed to secure and maintain meaningful employment. This reduces the risk of poverty, social isolation and poor mental health which disproportionately affect these groups, while enabling them to feel part of their community and contribute economically to wider society.

*Ryan was eager to explore the world of construction and was introduced to our ‘Build Your Future’ programme by his education and careers advice worker.

Following a difficult experience of education, Ryan’s goals were to develop his confidence and communication skills, as well as receiving help with his CV and interview prep.

Ryan took part in several of our ‘World of Work’ visits and one-to-ones and built a positive rapport with both GMYN youth workers and industry professionals.

He also completed a three-day work experience placement, gaining a City & Guilds qualification in Conduct at Work, and training in Painting & Decorating and Joinery from qualified tradespeople. 

Ryan’s confidence grew each time he added a new experience to his CV, and he recently passed his Level 1 Award in Health & Safety as well as achieving 100 per cent on his CSCS Card test, something he had previously felt would be unattainable for him based on his fear of exam settings. 

Ryan says: “Now I have a reason to get out of the house. I’m visiting new places, learning something new and meeting new people.

 “My mental health has improved a lot. When I left school, I was worried about what I was going to do, now I feel less pressure.

“I have some structure and routine which feels manageable, and I am more confident in travelling to new places by bus, train and tram. I also now have a higher chance of being employed. Being unemployed would have been very difficult. A lot has changed for the better.”

We are proud to support incredible transformations like Ryan’s. The Big Give Christmas campaign is a vital way for us to receive the funding we crucially need to continue making a difference to the lives of young people like Ryan. 

£50 usually pays for a world of work visit which help young people build their aspirations. A donation to our Big Give campaign could pay for two visits.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to our match funders, Sigma Capital and The Reed Educational Trust, for making this campaign possible.

Every donation, no matter the size, will have double the impact on young people with mental health needs. Donate here: Help us build brighter futures for young people – Big Give.

*Some names have been changed.