£8.5 Million for Work Experience Is Welcome – But We Must Start Before Young People Reach Crisis
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The Government’s announcement of an £8.5 million investment into work experience for young people in Alternative Provision (AP) is a significant and welcome step forward.
Through the new Aspiring Pathways programme, every state-funded Alternative Provision setting in England will receive support to provide meaningful work experience, helping thousands of young people gain confidence, develop employability skills and move into education, employment or training.
At Genuine Futures CIC, we welcome this investment wholeheartedly.
Because work experience changes lives.
But we also believe one important question remains:
Why are we waiting until young people reach Alternative Provision before giving them these opportunities?
Prevention Must Come Before Crisis
Every week at Genuine Futures, we work alongside young people who have become disconnected from education, employment or training.
Many tell us the same story.
They didn’t stop caring.
They simply stopped believing there was a place for them.
By the time many young people reach Alternative Provision, they have often experienced exclusion, repeated suspensions, anxiety, low confidence, social isolation and a growing belief that education and employment simply aren’t for them.
Work experience is incredibly powerful.
But prevention is even more powerful.
Imagine if every young person had access to meaningful workplace experiences before reaching crisis point.
The Milburn Review Couldn’t Be Clearer
The Milburn Review into young people and work highlighted that England now has more than one million young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET)—the highest level for over a decade.
The review also found that many young people furthest from the labour market have had little or no meaningful work experience because of barriers including:
- Limited employer networks
- Transport
- SEND and additional needs
- Safeguarding requirements
- Lack of school capacity
- Family disadvantage
These are barriers we see every day.
The Government’s investment directly responds to these challenges and is a positive step towards ensuring more young people can experience the workplace.
We See What Happens When Opportunity Comes Early
At Genuine Futures, we didn’t wait for a national programme.
Since 2023, we’ve been creating meaningful work experience through our youth-led social enterprises, including We Shine Any Car and Clean Futures.
Young people don’t simply complete worksheets.
They work with real customers.
They learn professional standards.
They solve real problems.
They contribute to their communities.
Most importantly, they begin to believe in themselves again.
Confidence isn’t built by talking about work.
It’s built by experiencing it.
What Young People Say
Luis Green, Youth Ambassador
“Before Genuine Futures, I’d spent nearly two years stuck in my bedroom. I had no routine, no confidence and didn’t know where my future was heading. Being trusted with real work experience changed everything. I’ve now led meetings with CEOs, spoken to employers and even stood pitch-side at Bolton Wanderers. I never thought I’d be doing any of that.”
Cameron
“Before Genuine
, I was just stuck in my room. Having the chance to get involved in real projects gave me confidence and made me realise I actually have something to offer.”
Jay Williams
“Being involved has helped me gain experience, build confidence and be part of something that genuinely helps people. It’s given me something positive to work towards.”
Aaron
“I never imagined I’d be helping organise community events or speaking to members of the public. Work experience has shown me that I can make a difference.”
What Parents Have Told Us
One parent whose son had become withdrawn after leaving education shared:
“He’s up early every morning now because he knows someone believes in him. That’s something we haven’t seen for a very long time.”
Another parent reflected on the difference Genuine Futures had made:
“For the first time in years, he’s talking about his future instead of worrying about it. Genuine Futures gave him a reason to get out of bed again.”
Luis’ mum, Shelly, also described the transformation she has witnessed:
“Before Genuine Futures, Luis wouldn’t even want to be in family photographs because his confidence was so low. Seeing him lead meetings, speak to professionals and smile again has been incredible.”
Sam Smith, Founder and Co-Director of Genuine Futures CIC
“This investment is fantastic news because every young person deserves the opportunity to experience the world of work. But if we’re serious about reducing the NEET crisis, we have to start much earlier. Waiting until a young person reaches Alternative Provision means we’ve already missed countless opportunities to intervene. Prevention before crisis must become the priority.”
Mike Alleyne, Co-Director of Genuine Futures CIC
“Confidence isn’t built in a classroom alone. It’s built by trusting young people with real responsibility, surrounding them with positive adults and giving them opportunities to succeed. We’ve seen young people who spent months isolated completely transform once they experience meaningful work.”
Work Experience Is More Than a Placement
One week’s work experience alone isn’t enough.
Young people also need:
- Trusted adult relationships
- Mentoring
- Enterprise opportunities
- Volunteering
- Community projects
- Employer networks
- Ongoing support beyond the placement
When these elements come together, confidence grows.
Skills develop.
Aspirations change.
Lives begin to move forward.
Alternative Provision Is Part of the Solution—Not the Starting Point
We fully support the Government’s ambition to ensure every young person in Alternative Provision has access to meaningful work experience.
But we also believe we need to think even earlier.
Imagine if every young person at risk of exclusion could experience the workplace before they disengaged.
Imagine if employers, schools, colleges, youth organisations and local authorities worked together long before young people became another NEET statistic.
That is how we change futures.
That is how we reduce long-term unemployment.
That is how we build stronger communities.
Behind Every Statistic Is a Young Person
The Milburn Review tells us there are now more than one million young people who are NEET.
Behind every statistic is someone like Luis.
Someone like Cameron.
Someone like Aaron.
Someone like Jay.
Young people with talent.
Young people with potential.
Young people who simply needed one opportunity, one trusted adult and one employer willing to say:
“We believe in you.”
At Genuine Futures, we’ve seen what happens when young people are given that chance.
Imagine what could happen if every young person had the same opportunity.
Because work experience doesn’t just prepare young people for employment.
It helps them believe that they have a future worth working towards.