How Genuine Futures Helps Young People

At Genuine Futures, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to thrive—regardless of their background, past mistakes, or current circumstances. We work with young people aged 15 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training, and who may feel stuck, overlooked, or lost. Our mission is simple: to empower them with the confidence, skills, and support they need to build a brighter future.

We do this through hands-on, person-centred programmes like Boss Your Future, where young people are guided through real-world experiences, personal development, and practical opportunities. Whether it’s learning how to run a business, gaining life skills, engaging in outdoor activities, or giving back to the community, our approach is rooted in purpose and possibility.

What makes Genuine Futures different is our lived experience. Our directors, mentors and support staff have faced many of the same challenges—poverty, exclusion, and even time in the criminal justice system—so we meet young people with real understanding and no judgement. We walk alongside them, not ahead of them.

From cleaning cars out of the boots of our cars to securing employment, education or self-employment opportunities, we show young people what’s possible with determination, guidance, and belief. We also create safe spaces where they can talk, connect, and feel seen—often for the first time in a long time.

Our work isn’t just about helping young people survive. It’s about helping them build futures they’re proud of. And as we continue to grow across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, we’re proving that when young people are genuinely supported, they don’t just change their own lives—they become the leaders who help change others’.

The threat of a “lost generation” for some is quite real although according to Prof. Paul Gregg this is an exaggerated term, what we do know is that there are significant consequences.

Experiencing unemployment in youth can lead to emotional problems and can also reduce a person’s life long earning/career potential, it creates further inequalities particularly between communities, and the financial costs of supporting unemployment; welfare and medical support reach into billions.

Then consider the cost to business and to the prosperity of the UK, imagine trying to recruit from a large pool of applicants with little or no work experience, where will the next generation of leaders and innovators come from? To compete in the ever changing world economy we need to have a bright, educated and skilled workforce.

With nearly 1 million young people unemployed, that is approximately 1 in 5 young people it is likely that we will all know someone in our network who will be affected by this problem, not least those still in education yet to try to gain employment.