At Forward2Employment, we are so proud of the progress our young people make, and this pride deepens when we read their testimonials and see how their year(s) with us have helped them not only gain employment but also develop core life skills and build their confidence.
Please read just some of our brilliant testimonials below.
F2E has helped me in many ways, like helping me step out of my comfort zone and do new things. Job Coaches really helped me get confident with [travelling on] buses independently, as well as making sure that I know I can go to them if I have any issues.
I have enjoyed my education days doing maths and socialising with my friends [during] breaks and lunch. I learned how to cope better with change. It has taught me that if I have an issue to talk to my Job Coach. In my work placement, I have been able to learn to get there on time. I now have a maths qualification [and a] Level 1 Award in managing personal finance.
The best parts of F2E have been creating so many new memories with other interns, the Job Coaches, and… with people in the industry. My journey has helped me gain confidence and understanding of what I would like to do in life. Though finishing this chapter of my life, I’m ready to see where my next few chapters will bring me in the future.
Now I am moving forward into the great big world… What I do know is I have learnt a lot over the years: becoming more independent, improving my maths and English for the exams, learning more from my work [placements] in My Acting Career and at Darent Valley Hospital, and much more.
Also, the one big thing I learned is “You Can’t be brave without being scared first”, so I thank you all, my Friends, my Family, teachers, and Job Coaches who have helped me along the way.
My time at F2E has taught and helped me in so many ways. It has taught me to believe that you can do anything if you put in the hard work.
In my first year, my placement was at All Saints Primary School, which I loved, and I gained more confidence in meeting new people and in childcare experience. In my second year, my placement was at Brompton Army Barracks, where I gained employment at the end of the year. I met some amazing people and gained experience in retail, which I enjoy. I have gained a BTEC, maths and English qualifications, and a first-aid certificate.
I want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Forward2Employment… I wouldn’t be where I am if I didn’t have your support. I can’t forget my two Job Coaches: Helen, who was my Job Coach for the first year, and Kayleigh, who was my Job Coach for the second year. You both were amazing.
The best thing about F2E is that I have gained a lot of confidence, [becoming more] mature, acting as one of the eldest interns, and sharing a connection with the interns, Job Coaches and library staff.
The qualifications I have earned are my BTEC Unit 16 Level 2 and getting a better grade in my maths exam.
The skills I have learnt [include] improving my timing of getting to my work placement four days a week.
My year has been good because it was a good experience for me. I’ve learnt a lot of stuff in education and placement. I have worked on English, Maths and a BTEC qualification as well as learning life skills and travel training. Travel training was my favourite thing. I really liked my placement, and I have been offered a job there. I got better at computers because there was some computer work I had never learned up to that point.
After getting to know who the Job Coaches are, I started to introduce myself to new people, making friends. After a couple of weeks settling in and getting to know everybody, I started to identify everything about work placement.
My work placement was a place called Must Have Ideas, I was working inside a warehouse, a massive room, big environment and I coped with that well. The skills I developed were communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
At F2E, mainly on education day, I’ve learned a lot about life skills to help me be more independent going forward. Using public transport to get to my work placement has helped me become more confident during my time at F2E. I also did English and math to help me with my exams.
My time at Forward2Employment has been the best choice I have made. I left secondary school very early, was homeschooled, and had no idea what I was going to do, but when my mum found F2E, everything changed. Since I have been here, I have learnt a lot, especially [since] I [wasn’t in] education for 2 years. They have been great with understanding and helping with my dyslexia, which I struggled with in secondary school.
[In my] work placement, it has helped me a lot by gaining new skills and building more confidence. I gained a lot of skills [and a] good understanding of real work before going to an actual job, so you’re ready and can also… show your skills from work placements.
F2E is great for people that struggle, and I would recommend!
A former Intern, Ellie, shares her thoughts on the Forward2Employment Supported Internships
Click the drop-down menu ‘transcript’ to read the transcript of the video.
Transcript (click to expand)
Ellie: During my time doing the internship, I learnt packing, picking and put away and I also learnt to do the time sheets. My Job Coach helped me by organising boxes properly and making sure I don’t pick the wrong products. That made me really confident.
During the internship, it changed my life by work skills, life skill, much grown up and confident. When I found out that I got offered the job, I was really over the moon I nearly had tears in my eyes, and I thought, I’m gonna have a job, I’m gonna get some money! It was really made me really happy and cheerful.
My favourite bit about working is making new friends, working for the company and helping them out.
I think that the internship is an amazing idea because you get to learn new things. And you might even get a job like I did.
Our intern based at Medequip, Ryan, shares his thoughts on the Forward2Employment Supported Internships
Click the drop-down menu ‘transcript’ to read the transcript of the video.
Transcript (click to expand)
Matthew Clarke: Ryan’s our third incarnation of a Supported Intern, and it’s benefited in many ways.
First and foremost, there’s nothing that Ryan hasn’t attempted with gusto and 100% effort. Ryan’s young in his years and in his work experience as well. So there’s probably things that are, perhaps, out of Ryan’s comfort zone initially, but he’s never stared a challenge in the face and not accepted it with open arms.
Louise Barnard: With Ryan here at Medequip, we came in and we had a couple of introductory meetings, so I came with him to support him – showed him the building, meet some staff.
On his first day, I met him at his house and we walked around together so he knew which way to come.
And then I came in every day with him to start with, supporting him through his induction, form filling, all that sort of stuff, and then also, learning the different roles that he was going to be doing within the warehouse.
Ryan: I just see if anything’s got to be put away, and if anything does, I’ll put it away. If not, I then begin doing some cleaning, and if the supervisor says otherwise, I get taken out and help out with delivery and collection.
Louise Barnard: He’s here pretty much without me now because he’s grown so much.
He’s picked up tasks so quickly, and I think to start with, he didn’t think he’d be able to do that. And at least I think he’s proven to himself, actually, how good at the job he is.
Matthew Clarke: Louise has been brilliant. The support she shows for Ryan is absolutely fantastic. And, the communication with not just with Louise, but the wider team at F2E has been better than I ever could have hoped!
Ryan: If it weren’t for Forward2Employment, I would never have found this place.
I never would have known where to look. I would have stayed maybe another year or two, where I currently am working, and that’s not what I want. I want something that’s local, and I want something that’s practical.
And that is exactly what this is. And it is so ideal for me.
Louise Barnard: So, as a young person with additional needs, you may find it hard to get into employment to even get past that sort of interview stage.
A Supported Internship means you get that support right from day one, from a Job Coach, and also from your employer as well.
It gives you the opportunity to learn things that happen in the workplace, those everyday things that others may find really simple, like walking into a new building, meeting new colleagues.
Matthew Clarke: Honestly, the benefit, the benefits realisation for the employer is you can tailor roles to suit the individual and to suit your business need.
You can have someone that’s flexible, adaptable, willing to learn. And you know, I would argue it’s – it’s a fantastic initiative.
If you have the opportunity, you should jump, you know, you should jump to it with both hands, honestly.