‍Introduction

Yep! is a UK Government-funded initiative through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supporting disadvantaged young people aged 16–24 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Launched in January 2024, the project runs until March 2026, focusing on those who are NEET or at risk of NEET, have SEN, or belong to other vulnerable groups.

This case study follows Aiden, a talented graduate passionate about game design, who joined Yep! to gain practical experience and confidence in the tech and creative industries.

‍Our Role

Real Ideas worked closely with Aiden to identify his barriers and goals. Despite holding a BA in Game Art and prior experience with the National Marine Aquarium on a VR project, Aiden struggled with confidence and lacked hands-on industry exposure. Our role was to provide tailored employability support and create opportunities for him to apply his skills in real-world settings.

‍What We Delivered

• Career Coaching: CV and application support to help Aiden present his academic and creative achievements effectively.
• Driving Support: Enabled Aiden to pass his theory test, start practical lessons, and book his practical test—critical for accessing rural job opportunities.
• Volunteering Placement: Connected Aiden with the Tuesday Coding Club at Liskeard Library, where he mentored children in coding and game development using Scratch, BBC Micro:Bit, and Python.
• Confidence Building: Through mentoring, Aiden developed leadership and adaptability skills, learning to communicate with neurodiverse children and create inclusive learning environments.

‍Impact

• Technical Growth: Expanded his knowledge of programming languages and game development tools beyond his degree.
• Portfolio Development: Added real-world projects to his portfolio, strengthening his employability.
• Personal Transformation: Gained confidence in public speaking and mentoring, improved mental wellbeing, and felt a renewed sense of purpose.
• Career Readiness: Achieved his goal of gaining practical experience and is now actively applying for roles in game development and tech education.

Aiden says the biggest benefit was “the confidence boost and hands-on experience” that made him feel prepared for the next step in his career.

‍Testimonials

“Aiden has been an incredible asset to the Coding Club. His ability to engage young people and adapt his approach for different learning needs has been outstanding. Watching his confidence grow has been inspiring, and we’re excited to see where his tech journey takes him.”
— Coding Club Coordinator, Liskeard Library

“I have had a great time working with Real Ideas, gaining confidence in my skill set and valuable work experience in-line with the career path I'm passionate about. The support provided has been incredible, starting with helping me pass my driving theory test and expanding to regular career support.

The work I have been able to do with the coding club I was recommended to volunteer with has been a great learning experience as well as a lot of fun. I have improved my game software skills by exploring new software and I have become more outgoing when it comes to engaging with new people.

I would definitely recommend Real Ideas to others as they have not only helped me gain access to opportunities that can help me shoot for a desirable career, but they also have boosted my confidence and given me a strong foundation I can use to develop my skills further.”
— Aiden

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