WorkingRite is a multi-award winning charity which has supported thousands of young people since being established in 2004. Our mission is to transition 16-24 year olds who have multiple needs into sustained employment, apprenticeships or purposeful learning.

For many young people our programme has been described as lifesaving. Our young people often have workless households, a cycle of unemployment within families, families experiencing in-work poverty and chaotic home lives. For many these circumstances create a cycle which lead to low (or no) qualifications, criminal records, drug or alcohol abuse, mental health problems, low self-esteem or peer related issues e.g. gang involvement. WorkingRite has learned that these barriers and / or under achievement need not preclude young people becoming effective and valuable employees if they are positively mentored and supported. Our programme delivers a unique work-based learning and mentoring solution to youth unemployment and sustained poverty. We break the cycle.

In addition to our direct youth employment success, the programme also helps to regenerate some of the most deprived communities in Scotland. Uniquely, we make this happen through engaging with small to medium sized businesses based within these deprived communities. Our employers support and mentor our young people and thus we create a virtuous cycle of increased employment, business growth and improved economic positions for local communities.

Since 2011, when we became a charity, we have supported over 1600 young people. Of those who complete the programme this increases to 80% moving to positive destinations.

The model has been recognised nationally, winning the Centre for Social Justice Award (CSJ) in 2009, Scottish Mentoring Network award in 2013 and in 2014, our Pioneers programme, delivered in partnership with the Cyrenians, won the SURF “Preparing for Employment Award”.