Young people in Liverpool tell of life-changing £5m programme that's delivering dream jobs and hope

• More than 50 Youth Guarantee Trailblazer projects now underway in City Region - targeting 2,000 young people 
• £5m programme supporting 18–21-year-olds into jobs and training 
• Helping people facing biggest barriers to work such as poor mental health, neurodiversity, care experience and insecure housing
• Everton in the Community-backed course has already led to jobs at Hill Dickinson Stadium  
• Participant Daniel, 18, said: ‘For a Toffee like me, to get my first job as a steward at Everton is brilliant.'

Young people have told how a £5m Liverpool City Region programme is helping them move into jobs and training - delivering opportunity and experience. 

The City Region is one of only eight areas chosen to run a Youth Guarantee Trailblazer – part of a £45m national initiative launched in Liverpool last year. 

The programme focuses on 18 to 21‑year‑olds who are care‑experienced or not in education, employment or training (NEET) or at risk of being excluded from the labour market.  

The official Everton FC charity, Everton in the Community, is working with the club's facilities management partner OCS to run one of more than 50 Trailblazer projects which has already led to stewarding jobs at Hill Dickinson Stadium. 

Daniel, 18, said:  

“I didn't know anything about the course until my mum told me about it but joining has probably been the best decision I've ever made. 

“I have just been for an interview, got a job and I'm starting work in a week or so as a steward. It's my first job, and for a Toffee like me, it's absolutely brilliant. 

“At the end of the day, you need a job and this is a dream come true, working in the stadium, hearing all the noise, and just living life.” 

Tania, 19, said: 

“The OCS Academy has been great because it gives you experience and shows you how it's going to be when you actually apply for the job. This opportunity has been really helpful for me and I would really like to work for Everton.”

Developed with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Education, local authorities, employers, colleges and the voluntary and community sector, the Trailblazer brings education, skills, careers and wellbeing support together in one coordinated offer. 

The programme aims to build confidence and open routes into work, training or further study. It is helping people facing the biggest barriers to work prepare for careers including construction, live events, hospitality and other key sectors.  

There are opportunities for paid work placements, direct links to employers and taster days, as well as one‑to‑one mentoring to build confidence and workplace skills. 

So far, working with VOLA, a consortium of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector, the Combined Authority has commissioned more than 50 organisations to deliver personalised support worth £1m.  

The help is focused on people dealing with challenges such as poor mental health, SEND, neurodiversity, care experience, insecure housing or low confidence.  

A further £3.6m is being invested by the City Region's six local authorities in similar complementary programmes which are delivering tailored support through youth hubs, local partners, one‑to‑one support, and local training and job pathways, backed by specialist help for young people facing additional challenges.  

Partnerships with employers and community organisations provide real opportunities, while Youth Advisory Boards give young people a direct say in shaping local services. 

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: 

“Our young people deserve every chance to build the future they want and this programme  is already showing the real difference that the right support can make. By bringing education, skills, careers guidance and wellbeing together in one place, we're helping young people overcome barriers and take confident steps towards work or training.” 

“The opportunities on offer are opening doors that many didn't think were possible. Working with employers, colleges, independent providers, councils and the voluntary and community sector, we're creating genuine pathways into good jobs – and it's fantastic to see young people grabbing these chances and changing their lives.” 

 Maxine Roberts, Everton in the Community Adult Enrichment Manager, said: 

“This is an initiative for people aged 18 to 21 to get on a pathway with our OCS Facilities Management organisation, which operates here out of Hill Dickinson Stadium.

“The connection to the stadium is superb and we have designed the programme with OCS to introduce young people to the world of facilities management, giving them a great start in a sector they might never have considered working in before – including hospitals, schools and stadiums.

“Participants get a Level 2 Spectator Safety qualification, training in basic first aid and ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) as well as work experience at a live match event at the stadium.

“We are now delivering training for the third and final group. The first two groups have all been put forward for interviews with OCS and we're thrilled to say that job opportunities are already coming to fruition – they're receiving offers and just need to go onto the OCS portal to accept them.”