Latest news Young people gain hands-on experience with local Carpenter at Easter Advantage Please select a donation amount (required) £5 Provides life-changing support, opening doors to education, inclusion, and opportunity for the young people who need it most. £10 Allows us to provide a young person with learning disabilities their first experience of a fun and inclusive social club. £20 Enables us to provide food for young people during our sessions, giving them access to a balanced diet. £30 Ensures a young person can travel to our Alternative Learning Hub to access their education. £50 Provides a week of sports activities for a young person, helping them to build confidence and friendships. Other Set up a regular payment Donate Day one of Easter Advantage saw young people take part in a hands-on carpentry session, gaining practical skills and insight into a potential career pathway. We were delighted to welcome Joe, a local carpenter, who led the session and worked closely with the group - young people aged 18–21 who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). Throughout the day, participants designed and built their own shelving for the Foundation’s Hub. Starting with raw 9x2 timber, each young person created their own bracket design, carefully drawing and shaping the wood using coping saws under Joe’s guidance. After sanding and refining their work, they installed the brackets themselves, with the help of Joe, - using a laser level, SDS drill, and rawl plugs - before completing the shelves. The session not only developed practical skills but also built confidence, with all participants remaining engaged, asking questions, and showing a genuine interest in improving their work. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Joe for his time, expertise, and for sharing valuable insight into his trade with the group. This type of opportunity is at the heart of Advantage. By bringing in local businesses, we aim to expose young people to a variety of career pathways while providing real-world experience that can support them into employment. The need for programmes like Advantage is clear. According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 923,000 young people aged 16-24 in the UK were not in education, employment or training in early 2025. The long-term impact is significant, with the lifetime cost of a young person remaining NEET estimated at around £160,000, rising to as much as £300,000 when wider societal costs are considered. Alongside the hands-on session with Joe, the group took part in icebreakers and began a CV writing workshop - preparing for tomorrow’s business-led session with Savills. By engaging young people in meaningful, practical experiences, Advantage helps to break down barriers, build confidence, and create clear pathways into education, employment, or training. We look forward to continuing this momentum on day two, where we will welcome Savills for another business-led session, further connecting participants with local employers and opportunities. If you are a local business or professional individual and would like to offer hands-on learning to our young people, please email: [email protected] Please select a donation amount (required) £5 Provides life-changing support, opening doors to education, inclusion, and opportunity for the young people who need it most. £10 Allows us to provide a young person with learning disabilities their first experience of a fun and inclusive social club. £20 Enables us to provide food for young people during our sessions, giving them access to a balanced diet. £30 Ensures a young person can travel to our Alternative Learning Hub to access their education. £50 Provides a week of sports activities for a young person, helping them to build confidence and friendships. Other Set up a regular payment Donate Manage Cookie Preferences