K joined Yep! in May 2024 with partner Cornwall Education Business Partnership (EBP) after coming to the end of his support with Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) on Work Your Way. He was also completing a 6 week Supported Internship as a Housekeeper at The Headland Hotel in Newquay.

Sessions with his Youth Employment Officer, Catherine, focused on his interests and aspirations. He was given ideas on short courses and Bootcamps to explore areas of interest.  This included a short Coding Course which helped him realise that this was not a career he wanted to pursue.  But perhaps IT Media and Marketing would be a career path suited to his interests and skills.

Through his sessions with Catherine, they used a process of ruling out the jobs and courses that he did not want to do, which ignited some good discussions and K became more confident in his skill set, the Supported Internship was also helping K grow in confidence and feel secure in his abilities.

K is used to having a support system but independently undertook an online course and liaised with Truro College about signing up to a course with them. K was a Guest Speaker at an EBP/ YEP! event and has spoken of how the support of CRCC and YEP! has helped him and made his confidence grow. He spoke to a room of over 40 people which is a massive achievement for him, he has become more self-accepting and self-assured.

K felt supported with his next steps after CRCC, his confidence has grown considerably, he is now comfortable with direct contact with employers and has attended interviews for work and college independently. K has been advised about many pathways and possibilities for his future and feels content with the number of opportunities available that he was previously unaware of.

After the supported internship at The Headland Hotel and 2 months after joining Yep! K had the confidence to formally apply for a job with them. He was interviewed and considered alongside all the candidates and secured a part-time job delivering linen around the hotel and lodges.

K has now started a 16-week Skills Bootcamp which started last week with a view to potentially starting an IT apprenticeship in January next year.

K was at risk of NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training), he felt unsure of what he would do upon leaving CRCC which was also when his EHCP ended. K is looking forward to college and to a pay check from his part-time job. He feels secure and optimistic about his future

He has achieved his short-term goals, but with EBP and Yep! there is support available working towards further achievements in the future.

“When I first met K, he wanted to be reassured that support would be there for him. Initially I would meet, talk, text or email him a few times a week while we worked out what he would go on to do. The support is now light touch support and leans more towards being available for IAG (information, advice and guidance). I have helped K to see by trying new skills he can choose what he wants to do in the future, and that it is not limited to skills in only one area.” Catherine, EBP