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National Care Leavers’ Week: Building foundations for independence

Published date: 23 October 2024

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Westcoast is proud to have been part of Next Step Forward which equips those leaving care with the essential skills they need for independent living and future employment.

Next Step Forward is a week-long programme that brings Berkshire employers, including Thames Water, Thorpe Park, John Lewis & Partners and Mott MacDonald, together, with a shared goal of supporting young people in care. On Thursday 24th October we welcomed young people to our Head Office and Distribution Centre in Theale, where we ran a full day of interactive sessions, focusing on helping care leavers gain the confidence they need to navigate the job market. From writing CVs to application etiquette and digital security, they left with strong foundations for their personal and professional development.

CV and application writing: Led by Westcoast’s Kornelia Waskiewicz, Talent Specialist, and Nimrah Amjed, HR Apprentice, the session focussed on crafting effective CVs and applications. Kornelia and Nimrah shared tips on how to make a standout first impression, providing practical advice on application etiquette and supporting the development of listening and speaking skills.

Digital skills development: With guidance from Sam Mortimore, Digital Learning Specialist at Westcoast, attendees delved into topics including internet security, understanding phishing threats, and structuring emails. Sam also introduced personal and professional development tools and covered virtual meeting platforms, like Teams and Zoom, along with AI-driven tools that can support communication.

Westcoast is excited to have collaborated with Next Step Forward as part of its Westcoast Commits’ Bright Sparks  initiative which encourages young people to pursue STEM careers and apprenticeships with local education providers. Often, young people leaving care cannot access training or remain in education. Giving them the same opportunities to develop and reach their potential is a positive progression of our Westcoast Commits programme.

We hope the skills we provided were enriching and helped open new opportunities for the young people involved.

Liz Mylum - HR Director, Westcoast

We are thrilled to have supported Next Step Forward and provided care leavers with both life and employability skills to help them get the best start in independent living. We’re incredibly proud of our trainers, who used their expertise to support and provide learning opportunities for our community. 

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