Opening Doors Where Education Falls Short
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Jen Clarkson Visits the Genuine Futures Youth Enterprise Hub
We recently welcomed Jen Clarkson, Senior Development Officer at Bolton CVS, to the Genuine Futures Youth Enterprise Hub to see our youth-led We Shine Any Car in action.
The visit took place at The Scrappers, where Jen met young people, observed day-to-day delivery, and explored how safeguarding, compliance, and meaningful real-world work experience come together within a live working environment.
A Real-World, 3-Step Pathway Into Skills and Confidence
During her visit, Jen was shown the structured, supervised pathway that underpins We Shine Any Car:
- Car Wash – introducing safe working practices, routines, and teamwork
- Valeting – developing attention to detail, responsibility, and customer standards
- Light Vehicle Maintenance & Repairs – supervised exposure to tools, problem-solving, and caring for valuable assets
This stepped model allows young people to build confidence at their own pace, while remaining supported, supervised, and safeguarded throughout.
Safeguarding at the Core
A central focus of the visit was safeguarding—ensuring that real work also means a safe, compliant, and supportive environment for children and young people.
Jen met with Mike Alleyne, Co-Director and Safeguarding Lead of Genuine Futures to review how safeguarding is embedded into daily practice. This included supervision, risk management in an industrial setting, clear boundaries, mentoring, and emotional as well as practical support.
As Mike explained during the visit:
“We’ve got an education system which doesn’t fit everybody. So as an alternative provision, we’re trying to offer a 360 model of work for people—where they can come in, learn transferable skills, whether that’s working in the car wash, valeting cars, or even vehicle maintenance. It’s about learning to look after people’s property and provide a proper service.”
What Jen Had to Say
Reflecting on what she saw, Jen shared powerful feedback grounded in both professional insight and personal experience:
“I’ve found it quite inspiring, actually. From personal experience of having a daughter that doesn’t always want to attend school, being able to see that there are other options out there—where doors have closed, you guys are opening them and giving people a shot and giving them a chance—and that can be life-changing for them. So I’m a fan, a big fan.”
She also highlighted how confidence is often damaged within traditional systems:
“Within the education system, a lot of confidence can be knocked and people might be written off. To come to a place where they’re not written off—where they’re actually valued—can set them on a great career path in the future. I think it’s really needed at the moment, and there should be a lot more places like this.”
When asked by Mike for her overall thoughts on what’s on offer at Genuine Futures, Jen added:
“It gives people confidence, workplace mentality, and having a place where people feel they can be themselves and develop—that’s just huge.”
A Message to Anyone Thinking of Working With Genuine Futures
Jen also had a clear message for organisations, partners, and referrers considering working with Genuine Futures:
“Absolutely go for it. Even just have a look around—because sometimes it’s just getting through the door that then leads on to more things. If you’re not quite sure, everyone is really friendly here. That’s all I’ve experienced. Just get in the door, see what it’s like, and see what you think.”
Mike reflected on why the work matters so deeply:
“We love the work that we do, because we do see the fruits of that.”
To which Jen responded:
“Yeah, that shows. It really shows. You’re working with Bolton CVS to make sure that what you’re doing is what you’re meant to be doing—and it is. It shows you’re passionate about it, you’re doing it right, and it’s more than just a dream. It’s more than something small—you’re looking to expand, and we’re backing you.”
Why This Matters
Too often, young people are offered employability support in theory, not in practice. At Genuine Futures, we believe young people thrive in real environments with real responsibility, as long as the right safeguards are in place.
Visits like this help us to:
- Strengthen best-practice safeguarding
- Build trust with partners and referrers
- Create environments where young people feel safe, valued, and capable
- Demonstrate that youth-led enterprise can be both ambitious and compliant
Working Together for Better Outcomes
We’re grateful to Jen and Bolton CVS for taking the time to engage directly with our work, our team, and—most importantly—our young people. These conversations ensure that as our youth-led enterprises grow, the quality of safeguarding, support, and opportunity grows with them.
If you’re a partner, referrer, or organisation interested in how safeguarding and real-world enterprise can work hand in hand, we’d welcome the conversation.
Together, we’re opening doors—and building futures that shine.