Are you a Hackney young person planning for your future? Here you will find information about a wide range of support including help with planning your next steps, where to find information about training, placements, volunteering, apprenticeships & jobs as well as how to access information about benefits and support around mental health.
Looking for Employment?
Find local jobs on the Hackney Opportunities page here or use the government’s ‘Find a job’ service
Hackney Works
A free employment support service for Hackney residents. Guidance is available to explore job goals, access help with CV development, job applications, interview preparation and finding suitable training, work placements, apprenticeships & jobs.
Click here to register with Hackney Works.
Looking for employment and have concerns relating to your health/mental health or a disability?
Our Supported Employment Team can help you.
“If you are a young person who is confused and unsure on what to do after education as I was, I would say a placement is a good way to gain skills and experience as well as clarify what it is you do and do not want to do in the future.” Danyal, Work Placement Participant
Immediate Theatre has a range of creative programmes and one-to-one support to help participants develop their skills & explore potential career opportunities. This includes filmmaking, drama and opportunities for young people to be trained as facilitators to support the delivery of creative based programmes in schools. We offer a range of support options for those still in education through to the long-term unemployed.
XLP runs an employability programme aimed at getting young people aged 16-24 into education, training or employment. The project consists of a 12-week course that tackles the barriers that hinder young people from moving into and remaining in meaningful employment.
SkyWay works with young people to access the opportunities, skills and confidence to build a better future for themselves. Supporting young people to tackle challenges through projects, access to sports, youth and community clubs, alternative education, employment support, skills development, role models, mental wellbeing sessions, parenting support, leadership development and mentoring.
New Futures HQ is a programme designed by Hackney Quest to introduce young people to different career opportunities and support them to build the right skills to get there. They partner with businesses to create a range of opportunities that let young people experience industries first hand, develop their employability skills, learn about career options and benefit from new pathways into work.
The Mentoring Lab is a specialist youth mentoring organisation, using mentoring tools and techniques to support young people from black and marginalised communities in making academic, career and personal progression. Their mentoring programmes have been designed to give young people a safe space to reflect on their current situation, explore the skills and opportunities available to them and develop the qualities to succeed.
Young Women can speak to a friendly coach over the phone, for up to 6 free sessions at flexible times (daytimes, weekends and evenings) about their life, wellbeing and future.
Young Women can speak to a friendly coach over the phone, for up to 6 free sessions at flexible times (daytimes, weekends and evenings) about their life, wellbeing and future. We also offer free CV support over email. A translation service is available.
Looking for Employment in the Creative Industries?
A New Direction runs Create Jobs, an employment programme supporting and developing young Londoners who are underrepresented in the creative industries.
The Committee is a free creative leadership programme for 15-19 year olds to learn, lead and experiment. If you’re young and have something to say, The Yard is the place to be.
Mediorite is a creative agency that sells services in animation, photography and film. As a social enterprise, they offer training and coaching to help diverse young people get a head start on their careers.
Apprenticeships, Earn While you Learn!
An apprenticeship combines paid work with study towards an accredited qualification. It’s a good option if you want to get started in the working world, as many don’t require you to have any prior experience.
“My apprenticeship has been nothing short of an amazing learning experience.” Micah, ICT Apprentice, Hackney Council
Apprenticeships are available at the council and with other employers.
- Current apprenticeships with other local employers
- New City College’s Live Apprenticeship Vacancies
- Amazing Apprenticeships and National Apprenticeship Service for information and resources about apprenticeships.
- Not Going To Uni has information on alternatives to university for school and college leavers and advertises a range of apprenticeships.
Boost your Skills and Experience
Training and volunteering can help you by:
- Developing and refining new skills
- Letting you experience what it might be like in a certain role or sector
- Enhancing your CV
- Giving you the opportunity to meet new people and network
The Council and New City College offer a range of adult learning and training courses to help you gain new skills in areas like English, maths, and computer skills.
- View current workshops
- View current adult learning courses
- Find short courses & training for jobs with NCC
We also recommend looking on:
- BSix for courses in areas like Art & Design, Nursing, Business, ICT, and Sport at Levels 1-3
- ELATT for courses in English, Maths, ESOL and digital skills from entry levels to Level 3
- Spear Programme for 16-to-24-year-olds, offers remote coaching, training and support, with a focus on the challenges of Covid-19
- Volunteer Centre Hackney for local Hackney volunteering
- Do It lists over 1m volunteering opportunities that are posted by volunteer centres, national/local charities and voluntary groups
- A New Direction runs the Good Growth Hub, a new space bringing together people and businesses in east London to offer career opportunities, training and skills to 18- to 30-year-olds
- Frampton Park Baptist Church offers sessions to improve personal money management skills and coaching helping you to gain confidence and skills to find employment
- The Skills Toolkit is to help people improve their digital, numeracy, finance & business skills.
- Barts NHS Trust for pre-apprenticeship training for 16-29 year olds and access to jobs and apprenticeships.
- Flipside is an industry-led talent development programme in digital product design for unemployed or underemployed people aged 18-25.
Benefits Information
Find information about claiming Universal Credit here
Citizens Advice Help to Claim Service
Residents who need help to make a Universal Credit claim can contact Citizens Advice. Call 0800 144 8 444 or visit their website.
Benefits & Budgeting Calculator
To find out more about benefits and what you may be entitled to, visit the Policy in Practice benefit and budgeting calculator here: betteroffcalculator.co.uk/free
Page last reviewed: October 13, 2022