Brentford FC Community Sports Trust has been chosen by youth work charity UK Youth to receive funding for a special project, supported by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Building Connections supports youth workers to create stronger pathways to employment for young people.

Six new areas – including west London – have been chosen for the programme, where youth work partners will build links with small and medium-sized businesses and connect them with young people looking for work. 

Among those taking part are Brentford FC CST, which will be using the fund to develop opportunities and pathways for young people, particularly around work experience, work-readiness skill development and industry insights, as well as to offer opportunities for leadership and networking.

The CST is also planning a jobs fair with interactive workshops.

Senior Manager for Youth and Employability at Brentford FC CST, Reena Silva, said: "We are excited about the partnership with CCEP.

"We will be continuing to build our networks with local and regional organisations to allow young people to network and gain professional insights and mentoring.

"And we hope to be able to work with the professionals at CCEP to be able to offer our young people insights and the opportunity to visit the headquarters and offices, bringing this internationally recognised organisation to the forefront of their experience and building their connections."

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Building Connections has been running for two years and already demonstrated fantastic outcomes for young people.

Benefits of the programme include: Increased confidence and awareness of young people to pursue their employment goals; developing youth workers' confidence and skills in delivering employability support to young people; and connecting youth organisations and local employers, as well as volunteers from CCEP.

Building Connections reaches those most in need of employability support – the majority of young people who take part in the programme are not in employment, education or training, or at risk of becoming so.

In March 2024, the Office for National Statistics said an estimated 900,000 young people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment or training.

Youth workers will receive training and support to work with businesses to identify employment opportunities for young people.

Volunteers from CCEP will provide ongoing support through mentoring as part of the soft drinks manufacturer's 2030 commitment to support 500,000 people who face barriers in the labour market to develop their skills and confidence.

Through these partnerships, CCEP aims to support the skills and development of 60,000 people facing barriers in the labour market in Great Britain by 2030.

Thora Eberts, UK Youth director of network delivery, said: "Our vision is all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives, but young people have had their job prospects disproportionately affected by the pandemic, followed by the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

"At UK Youth, we know youth work is the catalyst for change and this project puts youth workers at the heart of bridging the gap between young people looking for work and supporting them as they begin their careers."

Holly Firmin, CCEP senior community partnerships manager, added: "It's a sad fact that rising numbers of young people are currently locked out of the job market.

"At CCEP, we're committed to supporting these individuals who face barriers to employment, who haven't been given the chance they need, or who need a bit of confidence to feel empowered to take the next step.

"Building Connections aims to champion the power of youth work and unlock opportunities for young people. It demonstrates the power of partnerships and, through continued collaboration with youth work organisations and other businesses, has the potential to change outcomes for young people."