EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING
Explore our programmes
Blackpool: Connected Futures
Delivery Year 1
About
Connected Futures
Connected Futures is a place-based grants program launched by the Youth Futures Foundation 2022 to improve youth employment in marginalised communities.
The program targets young people who may be at risk of NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) or facing other challenges that hinder their access to opportunities.
We focus on finding locally tailored solutions to the barriers young people face and involves collaboration between local authorities, delivery organisations, and young people themselves to co-design solutions. The goal is to create lasting changes in how the education and employment support systems work for marginalised young people.
Why
Blackpool?
In Blackpool, the percentage of 16-17 year olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET) or whose activity is unknown is 7%, significantly higher than the England average of 3.% and the North West average of 4.1%.
The rate of employment (62.0%) has decreased over the last 5-year period and is lower than both the regional (73.2%) and national rate (75.7%). Blackpool has the highest rate of 16–20-year-olds with no qualifications across the county
HOW THE PROGRAMME WORKS
The Blackpool Connected Futures programme has 4 key work streams which are interlinked to ensure that young people in Blackpool are given the right support to enable them to access further education, gainful employment or training opportunities at post 16.
Connected Curriculum
An enhanced careers-focused programme which enables young people to develop essential employability skills and learn more about the world of work. Students in some schools will be given the option to study a level 1 or 2 accredited qualification at a local college in place of a traditional GCSE option.
Data and Systems
Reimagining the way that data is collated, processed, analysed and utilised across different services. Through increasing capability, capacity, collaboration and improving data and information sharing systems across schools, colleges, and the Local Authority, there will be both a clearer picture of the need and what works and for whom across Blackpool.
Tiers of Support
A common framework to ensure that services, young people and their families have a shared understanding and language around the support need within the town. It will also enable us to understand existing service provision pathways and identify gaps within the Town’s offer.
Youth Leadership
Through the development and delivery of the Youth Leadership Blueprint, the Youth Advisor team will ensure that power dynamics and practices around decision making are shifted by centering young people’s experiences and voices at the heart of Blackpool’s strategy, the partnership and within and across each of the Delivery workstreams
Impact
Engagement
24/25 impact coming October 2025
Employability
24/25 impact coming October 2025
Training
24/25 impact coming October 2025
Destinations
24/25 impact coming October 2025
