I want to do social work and help others like they helped me — but I need you for that

Our second charity partner teaches jobless young Londoners how to get ready for the world of work and unlock their potential. Campaigns Editor David Cohen reports

- David Cohen

STEVE, 21, sat down and said: “I wrote my GCSEs from Great Ormond Street Hospital and that was where I met a social worker who inspired me, so, yes, that’s why I am here — because that was my low point and I want to do social work and help others like they helped me. But I need your help to get there.”

Aisha, 17, spoke softly and looked away. “I am here because I’ve made loads of job applications, none successful, and I need to change how I come across because I am really shy.”

Marcus, 20, seemed reluctant to explain what he had been doing but then decided to share: “I am here because I never had a full-time legitimate job in my life and because, to be honest,” he paused, hesitant again, “I want to go legal.”

These were the answers these three young Londoners gave when asked ‘what brought you here?’ at a welcome day to induct 55 new trainees on to City Gateway’s latest employability programme.

Polly Hughes, the spokeswoman for the charity, and one of several staff assessing the recruits at their open-plan headquarters on the Isle of Dogs said: “There is a massive difference between how they come across now and how they will sound by the end of our programme. Especially after they get the external validation from work experience that allows them to believe, ‘yes, I can do this.”

City Gateway is the second charity we are funding to skill up disadvantaged jobless young adults to make them “work ready” as part of our £1 million Skill Up Step Up Christmas appeal across the Evening Standard and The Independent in partnership with Barclays LifeSkills.