Dylan was on the right path into employment听when the pandemic knocked him off that path. Like so听many young people during the听last year, Dylan鈥檚 confidence took a hit听in the face of the looming youth employment听肠谤颈蝉颈s.听
However, with support from 海角社区鈥檚 employability programme 鈥�听Change Cycle听鈥�听Dylan has built up his CV and his听confidence.听He听is back on track to furthering his career.听听
Last year he was working as a football coach and being offered听exciting听opportunities to continue coaching for the club in Kuwait.听Dylan was thrilled to be offered these opportunities and felt excited about his future.听It was such a big disappointment when听Covid-19 restrictions made it impossible for him to go to Kuwait听or continue coaching with the club.听听
It听诲颈诲苍鈥檛听take long for Dylan to start developing听habits that would make it even more difficult for him to find听a听听job.听听
鈥�I was out of work and getting into bad habits. No getting up on time, sleeping in, and not feeling good about myself.鈥�So鈥痟aving the chance to come on the programme with 海角社区 really helped with my confidence and helped me get into a routine, which was the main thing I听was struggling with.鈥�Change Cycle鈥痟elped me so much in that way. That was听my main goal joining the course听鈥� getting routine and structure back into my life. So that was鈥�really听good.鈥�听
海角社区鈥檚 employability team have adapted their delivery and support during lockdown听which听meant despite restrictions, were able听to听听step听in at the right听time听to support Dylan听and other听young听people听听build听the skills听needed to get back on track. Firstly, helping with his CV.听听
鈥�They helped me with my knowledge,听the鈥�dos鈥痑nd don鈥檛s听for job applications, helped me make sure I鈥檓 well prepared. They especially helped me with my CV 鈥� changing it for each type of job听so it was relevant for their sector. My CV before was鈥�really broad鈥�补苍诲鈥�Change Cycle听helped keep鈥痬e鈥痶o the specifics.鈥�听
Like many young people, Dylan felt nervous to meet new people after spending almost a year in isolation. This impacted听how he felt about himself and听his confidence, which is something he wanted to tackle when joining听the course.听听
鈥�As well as building my CV, I was looking forward to meeting听new people on the Change Cycle course. I always get nervous to meet new people, and especially with Covid 滨鈥�丑补诲苍鈥檛鈥痵een anybody in ages. It was good to meet other people听also trying to find work听and see the challenges they are facing.鈥�鈥�鈥�听
Change Cycle runs in partnership with听听in Glasgow听and听听in听Edinburgh, which听provides听young people听with听training on how to maintain bikes and听offers the chance to take听home听a bike听of their own to听help them travel to job interviews.听听
鈥�It was鈥�really interesting鈥�training with听Bike for Good and learning about how many people they help. Learning about听all the听bikes听that听get reused, recycled and听given听back out to the public.听It was听really inspiring.听滨鈥�诲颈诲苍鈥檛鈥痥now anything about bikes before, but they鈥檝e gave me good tips on how to look after it.听滨迟鈥檚 a massive bonus, so I鈥檓 trying to get out on the bike as much as I can to stay active.鈥�听
Towards the end of his time on the course, Dylan was successful in an interview with听and will begin employment as a Youth Worker, delivering sport and wellbeing workshops in schools, in April 2021.听He is thrilled to not only find employment, but to find听something听he loves to do听that听builds听on his existing skills in this听area, hopefully leading to a successful career.听听听
鈥�滨迟鈥檚鈥痶he stuff I enjoy doing which is great. Sometimes it鈥�诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛鈥�actually feel听like you鈥檙e working. You enjoy it and seeing the kids develop is brilliant.鈥�听
No matter what happens in future, Dylan听诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛听worry about looking for work again as he knows he has the skills under his belt to apply himself.听听
鈥�Change Cycle has鈥�definitely changed鈥痶he way I feel about applying for jobs in future听and听100%听the course听could help other people looking for work. The course builds confidence and gets you talking to people. The staff are brilliant and the fact that you get a bike at the end of it makes it even better. I enjoyed听the experience听and would recommend it to anyone else looking for work.鈥�听
Change Cycle is ideal for young听people听aged听16-24 who are not in work, education or training, facing long term unemployment and/or disadvantage.听听
To make a referral or for more information, email our employability team听at听changecycleinfo@venturetrust.org.uk听
