Westwood Recruitment generously funds work readiness programmes for a second year

We’re incredibly proud to share that Westwood Recruitment has renewed its funding for our work readiness programmes for a second year, committing £23,100 across 2026 to support young people who are furthest from employment.

Westwood Recruitment’s initial £23,100 came at a critical time. Thanks to their support in 2025, we didn’t just keep the lights on – we grew stronger, braver and more effective.

Their funding gave us the stability to innovate, retain key staff members and provide vital continuity for young people when other funding streams came to an end. Because of that, we’ve continued to build trust with young people who may otherwise have disengaged with GMYN and helped them maintain momentum throughout their employability journeys.

In 2026, Westwood’s continued support will help us build on this momentum. With flexible core funding that can be used across all our work readiness programmes, we will be able to:
– Continue supporting young people between projects, ensuring no one falls through the gaps.
– Develop innovative new initiatives and scale successful pilot programmes like Job Club.
– Grow our workforce by retaining key staff members and training more sessional staff in our work readiness model.
– Respond faster and mobilise new projects as soon as funding is approved.

This kind of support is helping us build a more mature and multi-faceted work readiness programme, one that meets young people where they are and adapts to their changing needs, rather than forcing them into rigid timelines.

Westwood Recruitment’s partnership with GMYN doesn’t stop at programme funding. Over the past two years, they’ve gone above and beyond to support our work in meaningful and practical ways, including:
– Sponsoring three 5-a-side football tournaments, helping us raise vital additional funds.
– Organising two raffles which collectively raised nearly £3,000 for GMYN.
– Match funding GMYN’s Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024.
– Supporting and hosting employability workshops for our young people.

Chris Couser, Managing Director at Westwood Recruitment said: “Westwood’s continued support for GMYN is crucial because this allows them to plan, deliver and expand their amazing work across Manchester. This consistent support ensures that vital help is given to Manchester’s youth.”

Our CEO Alex Fairweather said: “The partnership we have with Westwood Recruitment is incredibly special to us at GMYN. They’re an organisation that genuinely cares, and it’s been an absolute joy working with them over the last two years. Their latest donation allows us to move beyond short-term delivery and focus on the long-term impact of our work readiness programmes. We can’t thank Westwood enough for the positive difference they’re making on young people across Greater Manchester who are most in need of these services.”

We are deeply grateful to everyone at Westwood Recruitment for continuing to believe in our young people’s potential. Your renewed commitment us to do what charities are rarely able to do: plan strategically, act boldly and put young people’s needs first. It helps turn proven pilots into permanent programmes, reach more disadvantaged young people and keep proving that #YoungPeopleCan thrive when given the chance to do so.

For more information about GMYN’s partnerships, please visit our Business Support page.