Last month, Becky, Thomas, Claire and Gary from Cumbria Youth Alliance travelled to London to present the findings from Forging Futures 1- a ground-breaking project designed to support 16–24-year-olds in overcoming barriers and moving towards employment.
The visit brought together representatives from the Youth Futures Foundation, Institute for Employment Studies, Ipsos Mori, the Centre for Social Justice, and Josh MacAlister MP (Workington and Whitehaven). Thanks to Josh’s support, the team were able to hold the session in Portcullis House, part of the UK Government’s Westminster estate.
At the heart of the meeting was a presentation of the Forging Futures evaluation by the Institute for Employment Studies, showcasing the programme’s outcomes and long-term impact. The session sparked productive discussion about what works in youth employability and highlighted the critical importance of outreach work, relationship building, flexible, person-centred support, and partnership working. These elements are key to building trust, encouraging engagement, and achieving positive, sustainable employment outcomes and impact.
This visit served as a powerful reminder that with the right investment, dedicated and knowledgeable staff, trusted relationships and partnership work, young people can unlock potential and pathways into employment that may once have been perceived as out of reach.
We extend our sincere thanks to all attendees for supporting this important conversation. When the evaluation report for Forging Futures 1 is published, CYA will share this widely once released.