#iwill Week 2025: What Do You Stand For? – An Annual Celebration of Young People, Ambassadors, Changemakers, and Partners Leading Change Across the UK
#iwill Week 2025: What Do You Stand For? – An Annual Celebration of Young People, Ambassadors, Changemakers, and Partners Leading Change Across the UK
Genuine Futures CIC exists to empower young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) by creating real-world opportunities that build confidence, skills, and purpose.
In 2024, we launched and test-marketed a Pop-Up Car Wash and Valeting Service across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. This initiative aimed to engage young people in practical, income-generating activities while connecting them with local businesses and employers.
Time frame:
Participants:
Sites / Reach:
To date, Genuine Futures has directly supported over 100 young people, transforming lives by building confidence, developing skills, and helping young people find a renewed sense of belonging.
Participants reported higher self-esteem, less anxiety about interacting with clients, and greater belief in their own capabilities. Many commented that having a reason to ‘show up’ each day gave them a renewed sense of direction.
Our Inspiring Speakers sessions have been delivered in schools, youth centres, and community groups across Bolton, Salford, and Greater Manchester — impacting hundreds of young lives. These sessions give young people the chance to hear real stories of resilience, transformation, and opportunity.
We proved a genuine need for an affordable, quality car wash and valeting service across business parks. Clients consistently praised the reliability and enthusiasm of the young people involved.
Bridging Youth and Employers
Operating within business environments helped connect NEET young people directly with prospective employers, showcasing their potential and work ethic.
Building on the pilot’s success, we created the ‘Boss Your Future’ Programme, empowering young people to gain accredited training, work placements, and confidence to take control of their futures.
Genuine Futures CIC is led by Co-Directors Sam Smith and Mike Alleyne, who came together through a shared vision to support young people.
Sam has spent the last 26 years in the home services market, starting his first business with just a bucket and sponge. Since then, he has expanded into multiple ventures while mentoring hundreds of young people — changing lives through enterprise.
Mike brings over two decades of experience in business coaching and previously worked with Manchester City Council’s youth service. Together, Sam and Mike have built a movement rooted in lived experience, resilience, and a passion for unlocking young people’s potential.
It became a catalyst for change. It demonstrated that with the right support, environment, and belief, young people can thrive, develop valuable skills, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Through this project and the continued development of programmes like Boss Your Future, Inspiring Speakers, and We Shine Any Car, Genuine Futures CIC continues to show that enterprise can be a powerful tool for social impact — bridging gaps, building futures, and empowering the next generation to boss their own future.