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“The best decision I have made.”
That is the glowing recommendation of one participant in The Summer Jobs Programme.
Through the scheme, Eessa Ali enjoyed a placement with Sporting Your Futures in Birmingham last summer – and was so successful, he was taken on as an apprentice community activator coach.
Rajab Noor, Sporting Your Futures founder and director, said: “Eessa did so well for us in the summer, we had no choice but to take him on.”
The Summer Jobs Programme provides paid work experience for young people in a bid to provide them with a brighter future. Running during the summer holidays, it includes a preparation week, five weeks of paid work experience – funded by the scheme – and wraparound support from a youth worker.
Rajab said: “Eessa did a lot of sports coaching across the summer, he did some administration work, which he is getting much better at, he did some customer service and he is now working with the team to lead on our community projects.”
Prior to his placement, Eessa faced many challenges – growing up in a low-income household, losing his father and struggling in school. With few opportunities, he was unsure of what the future held.
The Summer Jobs Programme, set up by national youth work charity UK Youth, changed that. Eessa embraced every challenge with Sporting Your Futures. Supported by youth workers, he gained valuable experience that prepared him for real-world employment.
Eessa, aged 19, said: “I went to sixth form and I got kicked out. I had no sense of direction of what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go with it.
“My placement made me more confident in the sense of I can now talk to anyone. I have always been into this type of stuff in terms of working with youth. When I was in school, I might not have been the greatest student, but when I was in Year 11 I was working with you kids from Year 7 to Year 11. I was coaching basketball when I was in Year 11 and Year 12, before I got kicked out.”
Lauren Oliver, UK Youth head of network delivery, said: “Eessa developed key skills, built his confidence and demonstrated a strong work ethic. His commitment, passion and leadership qualities stood out and he quickly became a role model for others on the programme.
“Recognising his potential, Sporting Your Futures offered him an apprenticeship, providing stability, a clear career path, and a chance to continue his development in a field he now loves.
“Eessa’s story is a testament to the power of opportunity and mentorship. With the right support, young people can overcome adversity and unlock their potential. His journey proves that investing in young people does not just change individual lives, but strengthens communities and inspires future generations to break barriers and build brighter futures.”
Eessa was just one of a number young people offered placements through Sporting Your Futures.
Rajab said: “This programme for us has been an absolute game-changer, because it’s been able to get 40 young people into work across the summer.
“There’s many reasons why the summer jobs programme needs to exist. We need more and more of this. Headteachers tell us the importance of Sporting Your Futures and the importance of programmes at UK Youth, because without this, they simply would be going down the wrong path. I think it should be across every city to get young people into jobs that they deserve.”
Eessa said: “I didn’t know if I should do it, but now, six months later, it’s probably the best decision I’ve made.
“I recommend this to anyone and this job is a perfect way to prove yourself, regardless of where you come from, of anything, your gender, your race, your sexuality, your religion, anything.
“It gives you a chance to prove yourself and it gives you a chance to really connect with kids who need it the most.”
About The Summer Jobs Programme
The Summer Jobs Programme is part of a large research project to learn better ways to support young people at risk of violence. The project is funded by the Youth Endowment Fund, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Youth Futures Foundation. For further information about getting involved in the scheme, see shorturl.at/wiYlB
About UK Youth
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, see ukyouth.org
UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes
About Sporting Your Futures
Sporting Your Futures is a Community Interest Company based in the West Midlands. It provides1 career guidance, training, mentorship, and sports-related opportunities to aspiring young people in the community, with a focus on helping individuals achieve their full potential. Our mission is to empower young people from diverse backgrounds and make a positive impact on the community. To find out more, see sportingyourfutures.org/
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