Growing in Confidence | Will's Story

17-year-old Will from Edgeley in Stockport has faced challenges that would overwhelm many young people. In addition to being part of the Lockdown Generation, in recent years he has also taken on caring responsibilities for his mum, who has been unable to leave the house due to cancer and complications from surgery and treatment.

Despite this, Will achieved an outstanding set of GCSE results; nine in total, including Maths and English.

However, the pressure of balancing schoolwork with caring responsibilities began to take a toll on Will’s mental health. He became socially isolated during lockdown, and although he made the brave decision to try college, he quickly realised that large class sizes and the busy environment weren’t the right fit for him. Returning home, he once again found himself isolated and unsure about his future.

Building Confidence and New Skills

Will was introduced to Deborah, an Employment Coach at Groundwork, through Stockport Council’s SK Horizon’s programme and they agreed to meet at his home, where he felt most comfortable.

When they first met, he was understandably nervous and quiet however through the weekly one-to-one sessions, he gradually became more open and talkative. Together, Deborah and Will explored his aspirations. Will explained he had been applying for finance and accounting apprenticeships but hadn’t received a single response. Understandably, he felt disheartened and frustrated, as his determination to work wasn’t being met with opportunities.

To help strengthen his CV, Deborah suggested that Will build up his qualifications. Will was happy to have something to focus on and with Debs support went on to successfully achieve his QNUK Level 2 in Customer Service and Levels 1 and 2 in Health & Safety in the Workplace. These qualifications not only boosted his employability but also gave him a real sense of achievement.

Taking the First Step into Work

With his confidence on the rise, Deb and Will began the task of improving his CV and understanding how to tailor it to the kinds of roles he wanted. Following their work on this, Will’s applications for apprenticeships roles began to receive positive responses. Another great milestone for Will.

However, despite a shift in feedback, being selected for interview continued to be difficult, with Will’s lack of office-based work experience cited as the main cause.

When an opportunity arose for a Sessional Worker role at Groundwork, Deb saw this is a great stepping stone to help Will gain the professional experience he needed.

Deb took time to explain what the role would involve and what work was like as Groundwork. Will felt confident enough to apply and after being selected for interview he was successful in securing his first paid role. Since joining the team, he has received glowing feedback from his colleagues and manager, who describe him as “a lovely hardworking lad and are happy to have him on the team.”

Looking Ahead

Now, Will is not only building valuable skills and office-based experience but also exploring the possibility of a more permanent position with Groundwork. His journey shows what’s possible when resilience, determination, and the right support come together.

He commented,

Deb has supported me with my confidence, bringing me out of my shell and encouraging me to do things that I did find hard but am grateful she did. She helped me improve my CV and gain good qualifications to add to it. I am working towards passing my driving test and hopefully this will increase my chances for future positions within Groundwork. But if not, I am grateful for the support from Deb and the team I am working on, and I can carry my newfound confidence through to my future job.