Genuine Futures Secures Funded Placement Through Bolton’s Economic Inactivity Trailblazer
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Youth Matters 2026 in Action
Greater Manchester has been selected as one of eight national Trailblazer areas within the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper, setting out reforms to employment support across the country. This designation provides a unique opportunity to test and embed new ways of supporting people furthest from the labour market to move towards employment and training.
This work builds on Live Well — Greater Manchester’s community-led approach to health and wellbeing. Live Well is a Mayoral priority and part of a broader shift towards prevention, community power, and public service reform. At its core, the Trailblazer aims to move away from one-size-fits-all provision and towards supportive, holistic, and person-centred models of pre-employment support.
Bolton’s Role in the Trailblazer Programme
In Bolton, this work is being hosted by Bolton Council, which has been allocated £1.31 million from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Bolton Council has commissioned six pilot projects, each testing new ways of offering support to residents experiencing persistent barriers to employment. Collectively, these projects aim to:
- Engage 560 residents
- Support 28 residents into employment
- Generate learning to shape future employment support models locally and across Greater Manchester
The Role of Bolton CVS and the VCFSE Sector
Bolton CVS has been commissioned to host the Intensive Cohort Commissioning strand of this work. This provides a powerful platform for voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to showcase the trusted, relationship-based support they deliver to residents on a journey towards employment readiness.
This funding is specifically targeted to residents who are economically inactive — a distinct category from those who are unemployed.
Economically inactive is defined as people who:
- Are not in paid employment
- Have not been seeking work within the last four weeks, and/or
- Are unable to start work within the next two weeks
This group often includes people facing health challenges, caring responsibilities, trauma, low confidence, or long-term disengagement from systems — making person-centred support essential.
Genuine Futures Secures a Funded Placement
Genuine Futures is pleased to confirm that we have secured funding for a placement through Bolton’s Economic Inactivity Trailblazer, supporting the pilot of new, practical approaches to help residents move closer to employment.
This placement funding will enable Genuine Futures to provide structured, supported work experience for an individual who is currently economically inactive — creating a clear bridge between long-term disengagement and sustainable work.
A Practical Response to Economic Inactivity
Economic inactivity remains a significant challenge locally and nationally. Many residents face barriers that go beyond skills alone, including confidence, disrupted education, health challenges, or limited access to real-world opportunities.
The Economic Inactivity Trailblazer is designed to respond to these realities. This funded placement allows Genuine Futures to deliver a hands-on, supportive pathway that combines meaningful work activity with tailored guidance and employability development.
What the Funded Placement Will Deliver
Through this placement, the participant will receive:
- Paid, structured work experience in a real working environment
- On-the-job training focused on employability, reliability, and workplace confidence
- Individual support and mentoring, shaped around personal goals and circumstances
- Clear progression planning, supporting next steps into employment, training, or further opportunities
This reflects our belief that confidence and capability are built through doing — not just preparing.
Part of Youth Matters 2026
This work directly supports our Youth Matters 2026 strategy — a long-term commitment to tackling economic inactivity, disengagement, and unequal access to opportunity through prevention, community leadership, and person-centred pathways into work.
By embedding support within trusted, real-world settings, we are demonstrating how community organisations can play a vital role in reducing economic inactivity and improving employment outcomes.
Looking Ahead
This funded placement is both a practical intervention and a learning opportunity. We will use insights from this pilot to strengthen our employability pathways, inform future delivery, and advocate for models that genuinely work for residents who are furthest from the labour market.
With Thanks
We would like to sincerely thank Bolton CVS for their leadership and support through the Intensive Cohort Commissioning strand, and Bolton Council for hosting and enabling this important work as part of the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer.
Genuine Futures remains committed to working alongside local partners to ensure that opportunity is accessible, practical, and built to last.
If you are an employer, partner, or funder interested in supporting placements or progression routes for local residents, we welcome the conversation.