Opening Doors to Futures: Supporting EHE Young People Through Collective Action

Drop-in Careers and Pathways Event for EHE Families

For many young people, conversations about the future happen naturally at school. Careers fairs, college talks, wellbeing support, and trusted adults who help make sense of what comes next are often built into everyday school life. But for families who electively home educate, those same conversations can feel harder to access, even when the ambition and potential are just as strong.

At Right to Succeed, we believe every young person deserves clear, supportive pathways into education, employment, and wellbeing services, no matter how they are educated. When systems are designed around schools, it can leave electively home educated young people and their families feeling unsure about where to turn next. That uncertainty can grow as young people approach post 16, particularly for those without formal qualifications or strong connections to local services.

We know that no single organisation can solve this alone. That is why collaboration sits at the heart of our work.

Understanding the Challenge Together

Young people who are electively home educated are statistically at higher risk of becoming NEET when they reach 16. This is not due to a lack of ability or aspiration, but because information about post 16 options, careers, and mental health support is often delivered through schools. Parents and carers frequently tell us they want to support their young people well but feel unsure where to find accurate, trusted advice.

Mental health support can be particularly difficult to navigate, as referrals and early intervention are commonly school-led. Without clear routes into support, families can feel isolated at the point they need guidance the most.

These are complex challenges, and they demand joined-up solutions.

Creating Space for Connection and Possibility

In response, we worked alongside the Pathways for All EHE Engagement Coach to design a Careers and Pathways Drop In Event for EHE families and post 16 NEET young people. The aim was simple but powerful: bring the right people into the same room and make information accessible, welcoming, and human.

The event was promoted through trusted networks including the Engagement Coach, Blackpool Council’s EHE and NEET tracking teams, and social media. On the day, families were welcomed into a supportive space where conversations could happen at their own pace, without pressure or expectation.

We brought together eleven providers from across further education, alternative education, wellbeing, employability, volunteering, and community support. Engagement Coaches and Council staff were also present to offer guidance and clear signposting, helping families connect the dots between aspiration and action.

Young people received goodie bags filled with information about local opportunities, from colleges and training providers to creative and community spaces such as libraries and local arts organisations. These small details mattered because they extended the impact beyond the event itself.

The Power of Working Collectively

The event was attended by EHE parents, EHE young people, and post 16 NEET young people, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Families told us they valued being able to speak directly with education providers, alternative learning organisations, and mental health and wellbeing services. For many, it was the first time they felt fully included in conversations about future pathways.

Providers shared that the event created rare and valuable opportunities to engage with young people who are often described as hard to reach. More importantly, it allowed providers to listen, build trust, and begin relationships that continued beyond the day itself.

One provider reflected that conversations at the event had already led to follow-up visits, applications, and deeper engagement. Another spoke about the importance of continuing to raise awareness and actively create meaningful pathways for young people who choose home education.

This is collective impact in action. When organisations align around a shared purpose, communicate openly, and coordinate their efforts, the result is more than information sharing. It is confidence building, relationship forming, and possibility opening.

Why This Matters

Events like this remind us that young people do not lack ambition. What they often lack is access. When we remove barriers, share responsibility, and work together across sectors, we create environments where young people and families feel seen, informed, and supported.

At Right to Succeed, we remain committed to collaborative, place-based approaches that respond to real community needs. By continuing to bring partners together, we can ensure that electively home educated young people are not an afterthought, but an integral part of our collective vision for the future.

Because when we work together, pathways become clearer, confidence grows, and young people are better equipped to take their next steps.

If you would like to learn more about our collaborative work and its impact, explore our programme pages or read our latest annual impact report.