Sail away towards a new career!
The Forces Employment Charity joins forces with the Naval Children’s Charity to offer exciting new opportunities to children and young people from naval families.
Lasting impact
For some, these issues can have a lasting negative impact on future career prospects and aspirations.
To tackle some of these challenges head-on, the Forces Employment Charity has teamed up with the Naval Children’s Charity (NCC) in a brand-new partnership, which sees the charity join NCC’s Life Chances programme, working with the children who participate in the Tall Ships Youth Trust’s Empowerment Voyages.
Exciting adventures that bring new skills
The epic programme offers young people (like you) aged 12–25 from naval families the chance to level up their social circle, build some boss-level confidence, and crush it at a ton of adventure activities.
Throughout the experience, you can expect to learn a wealth of new skills, spanning both practical and soft skills like communication and leadership – all of which will stand you in good stead when it comes to finding employment later on.
First steps on the career ladder
The Forces Employment Charity’s crew has your back if you’re 16–25 and looking to chart your career course. Their Families team is like your support system on board, ready to chat and answer your questions about navigating the career world.
Through a range of group activities and 1:1 sessions, delivered both on and off the ship, the Forces Employment Charity team will provide opportunities for you to explore career ideas and identify what you want from your future, what inspires you, and where your strengths are.
Clare Scherer MBE, CEO at the NCC, says, “The Naval Children’s Charity is delighted to be working with the Forces Employment Charity in support of our young people who have lived through the most unprecedented experience of all our lifetimes, the Covid pandemic. The impact that has had on them, their mental health, education, social network, and potentially their futures cannot be underestimated.
“This partnership sits within our Life Chances programme to offer opportunities to our Naval CYP to help them improve their outcomes in life. By working with the Forces Employment Charity, they will understand more about themselves and how to find their skills and confidence in themselves from their often challenging life experiences and other more positive opportunities and experiences in the programme to build thriving futures.”
What to expect
Kelly Wales, families education and skills liaison at the Forces Employment Charity, explains what to expect. She says:
“Thinking about your career can be daunting at any age, but coupled with having experienced some of the more common setbacks that come with being a child from a naval family, this can be even more of a challenge.
“Partnering with the NCC will enable Forces Employment Charity to help those at the beginning of their career journey. Combining adventure with learning is the perfect recipe for success.
“We’d encourage anyone feeling curious about getting involved to sign up!”
Here’s the lowdown on what you can expect:
Chart your course: Their Families team is like your in-game guide, helping you understand how they can support your future career goals. They’ll break down the steps you need to land that sweet, sustainable job.
Skill up: Figure out what you’re already good at and what skills you want to level up. They’ll help you identify your strengths and weaknesses to craft a great CV.
Find your wingman: Get matched with a career mentor who’s there to support you 1:1, no matter where life (or the next deployment) takes you. Need advice on uni applications or interview tips? They’ve got you covered.
Support squad: Remember, the Forces Employment Charity is here for your whole crew. They understand the unique challenges of a military family and have the knowledge and skills to help you.
Bonus level: New friends, a positive mindset, and a wider support network – you’ll be ready to smash your career goals with a whole support network cheering you on!
Forces Employment Charity – support that works
Thanks to her dad being in the Navy, Ruby’s childhood was basically a permanent #LivingNomadicLife. Constantly globetrotting across countries sounds exotic on Insta, but it also means you have to hustle to build a new squad every time you land.
“I have lived all over the place as my dad is in the military. I have been to seven or eight schools in my lifetime in different countries,” Ruby shares. This lifestyle exposed Ruby to a range of cultures and experiences but also brought about unique challenges in terms of education and transition.
Ruby registered with the Forces Employment Charity’s Families Programme to seek support when starting college. Since then, the team has helped Ruby…
Create a compelling CV
Consider university options that align with her interests
Identify future summer placements to boost her skill set.
Plus, the team has advocated for Ruby to ensure she has a progression mentor at her college, meaning she now has someone to talk to if anything is on her mind.
Ruby comments, “Kelly (Ruby’s Forces Employment Charity advisor) has been incredibly helpful. She’s helped me with research and pointed me in the right direction, so I’m not worrying about a million things at once. She’s helped me break things down step by step and is so supportive with everything.
She adds, “Forces Employment Charity is so helpful in many ways. Anybody could do with someone who helps ease their worries or thoughts and anything they have – academics or job opportunities.”
The Forces Employment Charity provides life-long, life-changing support, jobs and training opportunities to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their spouses, partners and children, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.