Building Brighter Futures: How Boss Your Future, We Shine Any Car and UK Youth’s RISE UP Initiative Are Empowering Young People
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At Genuine Futures CIC, we believe in walking with young people, not ahead of them. Across Bolton and Salford, we’re bridging the gap between potential and opportunity — helping young people who’ve felt overlooked to rebuild confidence, purpose and direction.
Through our Boss Your Future programme and youth-led social enterprise We Shine Any Car, we’re empowering young people to raise aspirations through enterprise and social action. Alongside this, UK Youth’s national RISE UP initiative continues to inspire young people aged 16–30 to lead change in their own communities.
Since January 2025, Boss Your Future has engaged and supported over 65 young people aged 13–24, while RISE UP has reached over 250 young people aged 16–30, many of whom have been long-term NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). Together, these movements are transforming lives through opportunity, enterprise and belonging.
Read our full Bolton Fund impact story: https://bossyourfuture.net/
Walking Beside Young People, Every Step of the Way
Our approach is clear — we walk beside young people, helping them to uncover their strengths and supporting them to believe in themselves again. Many of the young people we meet have faced real barriers: exclusion, homelessness, low confidence, a lack of opportunity.
Through Boss Your Future, we provide one-to-one mentoring, workshops and hands-on enterprise experience — helping each young person take small but powerful steps toward a brighter future.
“When I first joined, I had no confidence. I didn’t think I had anything to offer. But now, I’ve learned that I can make a difference — and that my voice matters.”
— Brianna, Boss Your Future participant
“The change in my son has been incredible. He’s talking about his future again, setting goals, and has something positive to focus on. This programme has brought back his spark.”
— Parent of participant, Bolton
We Shine Any Car: A Youth-Led Social Enterprise Changing Lives
One of our proudest achievements is We Shine Any Car, Bolton’s youth-led car-cleaning and valeting enterprise, based at The Scrappers. More than just a car wash, it’s a training ground for young people to learn employability, teamwork and customer-service skills while building confidence through meaningful work.
At We Shine Any Car, young people learn first-hand how hard work, community, and purpose come together to create change. Every car washed represents a story of growth — a young person gaining the belief that they can achieve something positive.
“Working at We Shine Any Car gave me something I never had before — belief. I learned to speak to people, manage my time, and see myself as capable.”
— Jason, programme graduate
“Every car we shine, a life we brighten — it’s not just a slogan, it’s what we see every day.”
— Genuine Futures Team
Raising Aspirations Through Enterprise and Social Action
Through Boss Your Future and We Shine Any Car, young people learn that enterprise isn’t just about business — it’s about mindset. They gain the tools to take initiative, solve problems and lead projects that make a real difference.
Our programmes place youth social action at their core — empowering young people to raise aspirations not just for themselves but for others. Whether through podcasts, campaigns or community events, they’re taking action on issues like mental health, homelessness, inequality and opportunity.
“This is more than a programme — it’s a family. I’ve found people who understand me, support me, and push me to be better.”
— Luis, youth ambassador
UK Youth’s RISE UP Initiative: Inspiring National Change
The RISE UP initiative, created by UK Youth, is a nationwide movement giving young people the platform to take action, lead change and strengthen their communities.
At Genuine Futures, we recognise and celebrate the incredible work UK Youth is doing through RISE UP — inspiring thousands of young people across the UK to engage in youth-led social action and to see themselves as the leaders of tomorrow.
Like UK Youth, we believe that raising aspirations through action can transform not only lives, but whole communities. Our shared commitment lies in empowering young people to see their value, find their voice and build their own pathways forward.
“UK Youth’s RISE UP initiative is doing remarkable work nationally to help young people rise above barriers. Their commitment to amplifying youth voice reflects everything we stand for at Genuine Futures.”
— Genuine Futures Team
By the Numbers: The Challenge in Bolton & Salford
The statistics below highlight the reality faced by many young people we support — and the urgent need for youth-led action:
- Bolton: Around 4% of 16–17-year-olds are NEET (June 2025).
- Bolton: The secondary school suspension rate is approximately 12.2 per student — showing the pressures many face in education.
- Bolton: Just 52% of children on free school meals achieve expected early learning targets (compared to 63% of all children).
- Salford: 7.5% of year-11 school leavers were recorded as NEET (Nov 2024) — that’s 203 young people without progression routes.
- Salford: 40.8% of children live in poverty after housing costs — one of the highest rates in Greater Manchester.
- Youth Justice: Eight in ten young people in custody have been excluded from school nationally — showing how exclusion and vulnerability are deeply linked.
- UK Average: Roughly 13% of 16–24-year-olds are NEET (April 2025), equating to over 900,000 young people across the UK.
These figures illustrate the deep connection between poverty, school exclusion and youth unemployment — and why local solutions like Boss Your Future and We Shine Any Car are essential in helping young people re-engage, rebuild confidence, and reimagine their futures.
A Future Worth Fighting For
Since January, the results have been extraordinary. From young people starting college, launching businesses, and gaining jobs, to those leading community projects and building confidence — Boss Your Future, We Shine Any Car and RISE UP are proof that when you invest in young people, the returns are life-changing.
Through collaboration, compassion and commitment, we’re showing what’s possible when we walk with young people — restoring hope, trust, purpose and belonging.
At Genuine Futures, we’re not just changing lives — we’re building brighter futures. One conversation, one enterprise, and one aspiration at a time.
Read the full impact story:
https://bossyourfuture.net/