Wrexham charity calls on business community to support youth employment

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A Wrexham-based charity is urging the North Wales business community to give young people a route into work.

WeMindThe Gap is calling on employers to back a campaign to create 10,000 “meaningful connections” for young people who are finding it hard to get into work or training.

CEO Ali Wheeler made the plea at a meeting of the Wrexham Business Professionals. where she outlined how the campaign relies on firms offering guidance, contacts and real-world insight.

Several of business leaders gave their backing to the campaign and supporting the work of WeMindTheGap.

In addition, the charity’s funds received a boost when a raffle held during the evening raised £1,100 for the WeMindTheGap cause.

According to Ms Wheeler, demand for the charity was rising, as more and more young people feel they are being left behind.

WeMindTheGap’s The Power of 10,000 campaign aims to create 10,000 contacts – personal and professional – for young people who lack contacts that can help them find work.

It would mean that young people who may feel alone or isolated would always have access to an experienced and professional pool of contacts for mentoring.

The mentors could advise on educational choices, work experience, career guidance, offer constructive feedback on potential business ideas, or even just offer a listening ear.

Ms Wheeler said: “Imagine 10,000 people across Wrexham and beyond, each committing to be a connection for a young person. A mentor. A supporter. A door-opener. A trusted voice.

“Enabling young people to make such connections changes their lives for the better.I know this from my own career journey as a police officer, in the NHS during COVID, and now leading a social mobility charity.

“Time and again, the greatest gaps I have seen in people’s lives come back to the absence of connections, support, and trusted relationships.

“And when those connections are present, everything changes. Young people gain confidence, skills, and resilience. They begin to see a future they can believe in.”

Research by the charity has found that that even before the COVID pandemic, many young people were struggling with the challenges of new technologies and changing societal structure.

WeMindTheGap’s goal is to address these issues through a range of inclusive programmes in North Wales and beyond. The charity works across a wide age range from children as young 11, through teen years and those transitioning into careers, up to age 25.

Ms Wheeler pointed to the fact that one of the charity’s projects, the WeGrow employability programme, delivered £5.5 million of social value last year, with a social return on investment of £5.45 for every £1 invested.

Ms Wheeler added: “At WeMindTheGap we say: ‘It takes a village to raise a child, but a system to mind their gaps.’ You are that system. You are that village, that city, together, we can mind the gaps, grow skills, build connections, and build city which enables its young people to thrive’.”

Pictures by Phil Blagg

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