Great Places has partnered with Burnley FC in the Community and UK Youth to support young people in entering the workforce through the Hatch programme.
Hatch, an employability initiative in collaboration with KFC, offers workshops and paid work experience placements for individuals aged 16-25 who are not in education, employment, or training, or are at risk of being so.
Great Places has contributed £15,000 to fund the program in 2023 and will offer additional support through More Positive Together to those who enrol on the programme. The initial group of young participants, who recently completed the six-week course, secured employment with KFC and local employers such as fashion house Boo Hoo.
Aateeka Bashir, Great Places’ Community and Partnerships Manager, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Burnley FC in the Community to support young people in the area.
“The programme has been vital for young individuals who are estranged from their parents, living on their own, or dealing with mental health challenges and may not be quite ready for a full-time job. It provides them with valuable, paid work experience, offering insight into the workplace and a foundation to build upon.”
Claire Knight from Burnley FC in the Community expressed satisfaction with the programme’s success. She added: “We have a longstanding relationship with Great Places, and our employability work, for which we are very grateful.
“The first cohort has excelled, and we recently held a celebration event at Turf Moor to commemorate their achievements. The programme has been crucial in assisting young people struggling to find a path into work, and we are proud to see individuals embark on their careers.”
