Black and minority ethnic young people in the UK are particularly affected by youth unemployment. Here are four ways in which Access UK supports them.
There are at least one million young people in the UK currently unemployed, with Black and minority ethnic young people particularly affected. Young Black men, in particular, are around twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts.
Access UK, a charitable organisation founded in 2014, is dedicated to helping NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) Black and minority ethnic people, particularly those aged 18-24, to find employment and reach their potential.
Access UK believes that jobs and education are the key to tackling issues, including unemployment, economical disadvantage, and inequality, which disproportionately impact Black and minority ethnic people.
See how Access UK may be able to help you take your next career steps.
Who Does Access UK Help?
Access UK helps those who are Black or minority ethnic and based in the London boroughs of Brent, Haringey, and Hackney. Those outside of these areas may also be able to get referred by contacting their local councillor, JobCentre, M.P, teachers, colleges, Probation Services, or Youth Offending Team (as applicable).
Do you fall into this group and do any of the following apply to you?
- Looking for a job, training, or some guidance
- An ex-offender looking for work and careers support
- Involved in a gang
- Looking to leave a gang and considering your options
- A Black graduate struggling to find a job
- Interested in starting your own business
If so, Access UK can help you, too.
Here are four ways Access UK helps young Black and minority ethnic Londoners with their next career steps.
Careers Guidance in the Community
Access UK aims to provide community-based careers support to the young people it works with. Many of the organisation’s services are delivered through outreach initiatives, such as in local Job Centres and community centres. Their aim is to match you with the right job, training, or guidance to meet your individual needs.
Whether you are looking for help finding a job, a little advice on how to progress your career, some training, an apprenticeship, or a work placement, attending an Access UK event or reaching out to one of their trained consultants is a great way to get started.
You’ll find a respectful and empathetic environment, a supportive listening ear, and real-world advice to help you get wherever you want to go.
Mentorship
A mentor is a person whose role is to support, guide, and advise you. Their role is not to tell you what to do or to be your boss, but to help you make the best decisions for yourself and grow into the best version of yourself you can be. A mentor will work with you one-to-one, over a period of time which could be weeks, months, or even longer.
Access UK connects Black and minority ethnic Londoners with mentors who understand their experience. Your mentor will be able to provide support and careers guidance, offer suggestions to help you reach your goals, and cheer you on during the times when things get tough.
A good mentor can be a friend, confidant, and teacher all rolled into one, and their support can be invaluable no matter where you are in your career journey.
CV Writing Support
Your CV, or Curriculum Vitae, is a document used to showcase your skills and experience to prospective employers. It’s one of the most critical parts of the job hunting process, but it can be daunting if you’ve never been shown how to write one.
Access UK pledges to work with all its service users to create a CV or CV proforma (template) within four weeks of the user joining one of its programmes. Your advisor will work closely with you to create a CV that accurately reflects your experience and interests, shows off your potential, and is tailored towards the kind of career that you want.
A great CV can be the difference between getting a foot in the door for a job interview and being rejected. When you work with Access UK on your CV, you’ll be giving yourself the best possible chance of landing the right job for you.
Enabling Youth Enterprise
Do you have an amazing idea for a business? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur but have no idea how to bring your ideas into reality. Or maybe you just need a little help to get things off the ground.
Whatever your situation, AccessUK believes in enabling young people with bright ideas to make things happen. The organisation aims to provide the support needed to allow the next Bill Gates or Aliko Dangote to realise their visions.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to start a business, Access UK can connect you to reputable business and enterprise consultants throughout the country.
How to Get Started
If you think you could benefit from the organisation’s services, Access UK wants to hear from you. Getting in touch is as simple as filling in a short online form. Click here to make contact, get your voice heard, and start your journey towards taking your next career steps.
Access UK
