Birmingham-based Miss Macaroon has partnered with The Midcounties Co-operative to tackle youth unemployment. Their Fairer Futures Programme provides training and mentoring to over 30 job seekers, supporting them into employment.
Launched last year, the Fairer Futures Programme equips young people with crucial skills through counselling, mentoring, and real-world work experience. This innovative initiative is making a significant impact in Walsall.
In a ground-breaking initiative, Birmingham-based social enterprise, Miss Macaroon, has joined forces with The Midcounties Co-operative to create the Fairer Futures Programme. This collaborative venture aims to address youth unemployment in Walsall, providing essential training and mentoring to help young people secure employment. By setting up a dedicated training room, the initiative offers real-world work experience within the Your Co-op Food store located in the town centre.
Many of the programme’s participants face additional challenges such as disability and mental health issues. To address these, the co-op team is trained in disability and mental health awareness, ensuring that all potential barriers are covered in the journey towards employment.
Such efforts have seen a gratifying outcome, with approximately 88% of those who completed the programme successfully securing employment. This high success rate underscores the effectiveness of creating an environment tailored to the unique needs of each participant.
The training package is not only innovative but also flexible, allowing it to be adapted across different sectors. Ginday mentions the potential for replication with other companies, which could magnify the program’s impact, thus fostering the development of a skilled workforce across various industries.
Training within a real-world environment significantly contributes to the participants’ readiness to enter the workforce. It not only offers essential skills but also provides a sense of familiarity with professional settings, which is invaluable for those who have never worked before.
Rosie Ginday envisions that expanding this programme with other companies could broaden its reach and effectiveness, thereby making a substantial impact on addressing unemployment nationwide.
This pioneering programme by Miss Macaroon and Midcounties Co-op has proven its efficacy, with most participants securing jobs.
By providing tailored support and training, the partnership is paving the way for sustainable employment solutions.
