Wigan Youth Zone to receive funding from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and UK Youth

Wigan Youth Zone has been chosen by youth work charity UK Youth to receive funding for a special project, supported by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Building Connections supports youth workers to create stronger pathways to employment for young people.

Eight new areas – Leicester, London, Manchester, Reading, Slough, Somerset, Swindon and Wigan – have been chosen for the programme, where youth work partners will build links with small and medium-sized businesses and connect them with young people looking for work.

Amy Stark, Wigan Youth Zone senior employability advisor, who will be leading on the project, said:
“We are thrilled to be part of the Building Connections Employability Programme, a fantastic initiative by UK Youth and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
This programme allows us to bridge the gap between employers and young people, fostering valuable connections.”

Building Connections has been running for two years and already demonstrated fantastic outcomes for young people.

Benefits of the programme include: Increased confidence and awareness of young people to pursue their employment goals; developing youth workers’ confidence and skills in delivering employability support to young people; and connecting youth organisations and local employers, as well as CCEP volunteers.

Building Connections reaches those most in need of employability support – the majority of young people who take part in the programme are not in employment, education or training, or at risk of becoming so.

In March 2024, the Office for National Statistics said an estimated 900,000 young people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment or training.

Youth workers will receive training and support to work with businesses to identify employment opportunities for young people. Volunteers from CCEP will provide ongoing support through mentoring as part of the soft drinks manufacturer’s 2030 commitment to support 500,000 people who face barriers in the labour market to develop their skills and confidence.

Through these partnerships, the bottler aims to support the skills and development of 60,000 people facing barriers in the labour market in Great Britain by 2030.

Through Building Connections, Wigan Youth Zone aims to enhance employability for young people aged 16-25 in Wigan, Leigh, and further afield.

Amy Stark said:
“As part of this initiative, we plan to hold a careers event,
bringing together young people and businesses from Wigan, Leigh, and beyond. Additionally, we aim to deliver more than 250 career and employment-focused interventions for young people in the Wigan and Leigh community."

Thora Eberts, UK Youth director of network delivery, said:
“Our vision is all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives, but young people have had their job prospects disproportionately affected by the pandemic, followed by the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

“At UK Youth, we know youth work is the catalyst for change and this project puts youth workers at the heart of bridging the gap between young people looking for work and supporting them as they begin their careers.”

Holly Firmin, CCEP senior community partnerships manager, said:
“It’s a sad fact that rising numbers of young people are currently locked out of the job market.

“At CCEP, we’re committed to supporting these individuals who face barriers to employment, who haven’t been given the chance they need, or who need a bit of confidence to feel empowered to take the next step.

“Building Connections aims to champion the power of youth work and unlock opportunities for young people. It demonstrates the power of partnerships and, through continued collaboration with youth work organisations and other businesses, has the potential to change outcomes for young people.”