New partnership-led initiative creating opportunities for young people across Bromley

Bromley FC Community Trust, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has officially launched the Bromley FC Youth Employability Hub – a new initiative designed to help young people across the borough build confidence, develop skills and access meaningful opportunities in education, training and employment.

While the launch event marked an important milestone, the Hub is already supporting young people through personalised employability guidance, one-to-one support, workshops, employer engagement opportunities and access to specialist services.

The official launch brought together employers, community organisations and young people to celebrate the programme and strengthen the partnerships that will help create even more opportunities across Bromley.

Jeff Hutton, Chief Executive Officer of Bromley FC Community Trust, said:

“The launch of the Bromley FC Youth Employability Hub represents what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared commitment to creating opportunity for young people.

At Bromley FC Community Trust, we believe football has the power to connect people, build confidence and open doors. Through this Hub, we’re using that platform to help young people develop skills, access support and take positive steps towards education, training and employment.

This is just the beginning. Together with our partners, we’re creating a network of support that will continue to provide opportunities and deliver lasting impact across Bromley for years to come.”

Throughout the morning, guests heard from partner organisations and learned more about the support available through the Hub. Young people attending were able to engage directly with employers and support organisations, explore opportunities and gain a greater understanding of the pathways available to them.

Young people already involved with the Hub also played a key role in the event, welcoming attendees, sharing their experiences and introducing fellow participants to partner organisations. Their involvement reflected the confidence, ownership and personal development that the programme seeks to inspire.

Ayaan Robson, Jeff Hutton, Nici Audhlam-Gardiner and Alex Koroma addressing attendees during the Youth Employability Hub celebration event

For Bromley FC Community Trust’s Head of Operations, Alex Koroma, the project holds particular significance. Alex said:

“This project is particularly important to me because my own journey started through the DWP Kickstart programme. I joined Bromley FC Community Trust as a Community Operations Assistant and was given an opportunity to learn, develop and build a career within an organisation that believed in me.

A few years ago, I was a young person looking for an opportunity. Today, I’m helping lead a programme that creates those opportunities for others. Having experienced first-hand how a single opportunity can change the direction of someone’s life, I understand many of the challenges that some of the young people we support are facing and the importance of providing the right support at the right time.

What stood out most throughout the day was seeing young people engaging with organisations, asking questions and building connections. I was particularly proud to see some of the young people already involved with the Hub helping to welcome attendees, share their experiences and introduce others to our partners. Watching them take ownership of the event and support others was a real reflection of the confidence and development that can happen when young people are given the right opportunities.”

Attendees at the Youth Employability Hub event networking and discussing what opportunities are available to them through the hub

The launch welcomed representatives from a range of organisations supporting the Hub, including Foresters Financial UK, Mind, Clarion Housing, National Citizen Service (NCS), Barclays and Adaline Recruitment and Training.

Nici Audhlam-Gardiner, Chief Executive Officer of Foresters Financial UK, said:

“Foresters is delighted to be partnering with Bromley FC Community Trust in the launch of the Hub. It’s an initiative which will make a real difference to the lives of young people across our local community, and something that is closely aligned to our purpose and the work we do to support financial wellbeing.

We’ll be collaborating to offer financial education workshops as part of the wider programme – at a critical time for young people, to ensure they make sound financial decisions and set up good savings habits as they enter the world of work.

Bromley FC and Foresters each have more than a century of history, a clear purpose and a shared ambition for continued growth and success, whilst investing back into our local community.”

Ayaan Robson, District Operations Manager, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) South London District, added:

“I am truly delighted to see our Youth Employability Hub at Bromley FC come to life as part of our wider commitment to delivering Youth Hubs in every local area across Great Britain backed by our £2.5 billion youth employment support package.

It represents opportunity, growth, and community for our young people. I am incredibly excited about what the future holds and the positive impact this initiative will have for years to come.”

The Bromley FC Youth Employability Hub is delivered in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and supported by a growing network of employers, training providers and community organisations, all working together to help young people build confidence, develop skills and access meaningful opportunities.

The Barclays LifeSkills Bus formed part of the Hub launch event, showcasing the practical support and opportunities available through partner organisations working alongside the Youth Employability Hub

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