Greater Manchester’s Hidden Talent was a youth employment programme working with young people aged 16 – 24, funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, and led by GMCVO. Delivery took place 14th January 2022 - 30th June 2022.
The programme builds on learning from Greater Manchester Talent Match (2013 - 2018) and the first iteration of Greater Manchester’s Hidden Talent (March 2019 – March 2021) which supported hidden young people to progress towards employment and improve their self-esteem and wellbeing. Hidden young people are not in employment, education or training and not claiming any benefits.
Our Talent Coaches, based in community-based employment support organisations across Greater Manchester, provided strength-based and holistic support to young people
GMCVO provided leadership, governance and infrastructure support to the programme’s Delivery Partners, who provided individualised, strength-based holistic employability support to young people.
Other programme partners include Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) who facilitate our Youth Panel, and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce who co-ordinate employer engagement.
Why do we target Hidden Young People?
Whilst all young people aged 16 - 24 with barriers to employment, education or training are eligble for support, the programme targets 'hidden young people'. Research from Greater Manchester Talent Match in 2018 revealed there to be over 21,000 hidden young people living in Greater Manchester.
Because the majority of employment support programmes only target ‘known’ young people (those claiming out-of-work benefits), we focus efforts on hidden young people because they are at increased risk of becoming separated from initiatives that improve the likelihood of employment.
What have we produced?
The final programme evaluation report (2022) written by evaluation partners, the Decent Work and Productivity Research Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University, shares more about how the programme was delivered, what it achieved, and lessons for future policy and practice. It also raises important questions about the need for a sustainable and long-term strategy to support young people into employment.
The year 2 evaluation report (2021) is based on learning from the first iteration of the programme (2019 – 2021) which supported 295 young people towards employment, training or education, and better wellbeing and increased confidence and self-belief.
Our employer toolkit was endorsed and promoted by the GM Good Employment Charter. It shared how employers can adaptrecruitment processes to get the best out of young people
We produced a short report highlighting our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including how programme delivery adapted and responded to young people’s needs.
