More than 1,000 additional young people across the West of England will gain access to tailored employment and skills support, following a £2 million investment to expand the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme.
The funding has been committed by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) and announced by Mayor Helen Godwin, significantly scaling up a pilot that has already supported more than 300 young people since launching in April 2025.
The expanded programme will work with young people facing a wide range of barriers to work, offering personalised, wrap‑around support designed to build confidence, improve wellbeing, and develop practical skills for employment.
VCSE‑led support tailored to young people’s needs
Delivery of the expanded scheme will be led by organisations from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, chosen for their experience supporting young people furthest from the labour market.
Support on offer includes:
- Free mentoring and skills development
- Confidence‑building and wellbeing support
- Help with essential life skills, including housing and transport
- Practical routes into training, education, and work
All young people on the programme will also receive 12 months of free bus travel, helping to remove transport barriers to employment, training, and education opportunities across the region.
Organisations delivering the expanded programme
1625 Independent People, working with The Mazi Project, St Werburgh’s City Farm, Maybe Southwest and Ambition Lawrence Weston, will focus on young people experiencing housing insecurity, including care leavers, young asylum seekers, and refugees. Support includes specialist mental health provision and dedicated counselling services, alongside pathways into sectors such as construction, hospitality, retail, care, creative industries, green jobs, and IT.
Creative Youth Network, in partnership with Ablaze and The King’s Trust, will provide one‑to‑one support followed by short courses and group activities centred on personal development, confidence and employability. Young people will gain exposure to creative, digital, and sports‑based activities, alongside structured employability workshops, sector‑specific training, and work placements with local employers.
Bristol City Robins Foundation, working alongside Bristol Bears Foundation and Empire Fighting Chance, will use sport as a catalyst to build resilience, confidence, and aspiration. Participants will explore career interests, develop employability skills and progress into work experience, volunteering, and employment opportunities through a wide network of corporate and community partners.
West of England Mayor Helen Godwin said:
“The West of England is the fastest-growing regional economy in the country, but for many young people breaking through into a job or gaining essential employment skills is a real challenge– particularly for those with complex needs.
“Our goal is to create a fairer regional economy, where everyone has the opportunity to share in our success.
“Working with a real range of Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise organisations, our new funding will help unlock valuable support for more young people across our region. Whether ultimately for work, better education or volunteering, they will be given the confidence and skills to succeed.”
Part of a national drive to get young people into work
The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer forms part of the UK Government’s £3.5 billion Get Britain Working package, the largest investment in employment support for a generation.
The national Youth Guarantee aims to ensure that every 18‑ to 21‑year‑old in England can access:
- An apprenticeship
- Quality education or training
- Or direct support to secure employment
By expanding the Trailblazer locally, the West of England is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to tackle youth unemployment, reduce economic inactivity and support inclusive growth across the region.
Image credit: iStock
