Building Confidence and New Opportunities for a Young Person in Cornwall

Through personalised support and skills development, HS progressed from having no work experience to volunteering in a community café, taking meaningful steps toward future employment in the hospitality and events sector.

Introduction

HS was referred to the YEP! (Youth Engagement Project) by a work coach at Penryn Jobcentre Plus and joined the programme in December 2025. Having recently moved to the area, HS wanted to gain confidence, explore volunteering opportunities, and begin building a pathway toward a future goal of working in event planning.

Although HS had completed formal education, there was no previous employment experience or sector-specific qualifications in hospitality or events. Starting again in a new location presented additional challenges, and HS was unsure where to begin. YEP! provided a supportive environment to explore options, learn new skills, and build confidence.

Our Role

YEP! supported HS by:

• Developing essential employability skills.
• Identifying local volunteering opportunities aligned with HS’s interests.
• Increasing confidence in approaching employers.
• Providing access to relevant training to support long-term career goals.

What We Delivered

HS engaged positively with all support and training opportunities, including:

Skills Development & Training

• Barista training at Yallah Roastery in Falmouth.
• Level 2 Food Safety Qualification, increasing employability in hospitality settings.

Employability Support

• Working together on updating a CV and writing a cover letter.
• Creating a targeted list of local employers for volunteering or work experience.
• Ongoing 1:1 sessions to build confidence and maintain momentum in the job search.

Taking Initiative

With growing confidence, HS contacted the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth and secured a regular volunteering position in their coffee shop every Monday. This provided valuable hands-on experience and an opportunity to practise new skills in a supportive community space.

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Impact

HS has made significant progress since joining the project:

• Secured regular volunteering experience in a local café.
• Gained new qualifications and practical hospitality skills.
• Improved confidence in contacting employers and navigating opportunities in a new area.
• Continues to attend regular 1:1 support sessions, working toward gaining paid employment.
• Successfully achieved the initial goal of finding a volunteering role and is now building a foundation for future work in hospitality or events.

HS shared that gaining skills, receiving help with CV development, and being supported to find volunteering opportunities were some of the most valuable aspects of the programme so far.

Looking Ahead

HS is now more confident, more skilled, and actively working toward paid employment. The experience gained through YEP! has helped increase independence and provide a clearer sense of direction, and HS would recommend this support to other young people seeking guidance or a first step into work.

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