Best practice by Poplar HARCA, UK

Talent Match was set up as a response to young people saying that unemployment was the key issue affecting their lives. Being unemployed at a young age can potentially lead to longer term impact on level of pay, future employment, and reduced life chances.

The new approach, which underpinned the talent match model, was to enhance employability through a youth centred approach. Young people challenged by multiple and complex barriers were equipped with capabilities and desire to navigate a fulfilling career pathway equipping them with ‘tools’ for life. It was recognised that there were no quick fixes to entrenched problems and the delivery took a long-term approach to work with a small number of young people.

Talent Match aimed to engage ‘hidden‘ young people. It was therefore essential to use creative ways to engage those who are disengaged from existing provision and those who may not proactively access support.

Poplar HARCA’s employment & training team worked with our youth service – Spotlight – as well as Docklands outreach – one of our youth service partners in Tower Hamlets, to find young people who were not engaging in any other service by conducting street outreach. Many of the young people also came to our service through word of mouth.

Find out more

To find out more on this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact the organisation’s Coordinator through the Members Only Zone.