Over two days at Willmott Dixon’s, Rivergreen Centre project, we ran an employability programme for a group of five young NEETs and long-term unemployed individuals.
This resulted in 50 hours of employment support (NT11). One participant, who openly shared that he has ADHD and suspected but undiagnosed autism, told us that the smaller group size and the informal yet safe environment created by We Are Footprint and Willmott Dixon meant he didn’t experience the overwhelm he usually does in group settings.
Because of this, he felt comfortable enough to open up more than he normally would, giving him the space to ask questions, explore his strengths, and dig into the real barriers getting in his way. Another participant shared that the same environment helped her feel more confident during group activities.
Feeling safe meant she could talk honestly about the situations outside her comfort zone and that usually hold her back. She told us this gave her a real boost of preparation for a job interview she had later that week. The honesty of just a few people can really create a ripple effect, encouraging others to share more openly and support each other throughout the programme. We always design our programmes based on the information we receive from our partners and referral organisations. But responding effectively to individual needs requires flexibility and a readiness to adapt as participants open up and trust us with their stories.
More and more, we’re seeing that the one-to-one coaching sessions are where the real breakthroughs happen.
Once trust has been built, individuals often share what’s really holding them back and that honesty becomes the starting point for genuine progress. At We Are Footprint, we’re dedicated to helping people who may be quite far from being work-ready take those early but crucial steps toward employment.
These moments of growth, confidence, and self-belief are exactly why we do what we do.
