Callum’s recovery from addiction and homelessness began with EveryYouth’s support. Now employed and moving into his own flat, he’s rebuilding his life.
Project Flourish
Project Flourish
Project Flourish, created in collaboration with Hays, a globally recognised recruitment and workforce solutions provider, is the first pro-bono recruitment service of its kind. It is specifically designed to help young people at risk of homelessness into jobs that will transform their lives.
We consistently noticed that young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness were at a disadvantage in the jobs market. Typical recruitment processes make it hard, if not nearly impossible, for them to compete with their housed peers. With the belief that a good job is the surest route out of homelessness, and the certainty that every young person can thrive if given the right support at the right time, we knew we needed to find a better way to support homeless young people into employment.
Hear what YMCA Leicestershire say about Project Flourish:
Project Flourish combines Hays’ recruitment expertise and employer networks, with EveryYouth’s Network of Delivery Partners and access to young people experiencing homelessness, to create a truly ground-breaking project.
Project Flourish has reached employers through the Crisis Homelessness Alliance and is being endorsed and rolled out in partnership with The Royal Foundation’s Homewards programme.
Participating young people are provided with comprehensive support as they transition to employment and independent living, and employers are given guidance on how to make recruitment practices and work place environments more inclusive so that young people can thrive.
Every Project Flourish employer is required to take part in an ‘Employer Awareness Session’ designed around principles from PIE (psychologically informed environment), to make sure their workplace culture becomes one where a young person can thrive. As well as adapting recruitment practises, each young person is set up with a mentor in their workplace.
Young people participating in Project Flourish are provided with a comprehensive package of bespoke support; from offering financial and pastoral care to mentorship and upskilling provided through a bursary scheme and a dedicated Hays Learning management platform providing free online support for health & wellbeing, training, skills and qualifications as they transition to employment and independent living.
HOW IT WORKS
PLANNING
Receive free access to the Hays Learning Management System offering tailored interactive courses and accredited training designed to support an individual to navigate the world of work.
INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT
Roles are created with selected employers in a range of industries placing emphasis on inclusive recruitment processes, assessing candidates based on skills rather than experience or qualifications.
ONBOARDING
We work with the employer and the individual to set both parties up for success, including delivering a mandatory employer awareness session based on Psychologically Informed Environment Principles.
SUPPORT SERVICES
The successful young person is offered full wrap around support from EveryYouth, Hays, and their employer. This includes: a mentor in the workplace, a bursary of up to £2,050 and additional holistic support from third parties.
BUILDING OUTCOMES
By carefully monitoring the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes for the young person, we can provide ongoing support and continually improve processes to ensure successful outcomes.
“It was difficult looking for jobs. They cut my hours down, they cut my shifts down so I wanted to look for bigger and better things that would help me in the future.
I now recruit people. I like the environment and the job. I want to work my way up and try to become a manager.”
Young person supported by Project Flourish
For more information on Project Flourish, or if your organisation would like to learn more about how to support young people into work, please contact Michelle Blackburn at michelle@everyyouth.org.uk.
For any companies or employers interested in Project Flourish, please contact Jamie Houlders at jamie.houlders@hays.com.
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