It’s been a busy and successful summer for 11 care experienced young people who have had a taste of the working world, thanks to an award-winning Rhondda Cynon Taf Council team and Pontypridd’s amazing businesses!
Not only did they “serve” incredible enthusiasm and commitment throughout the Care2Work Summer Employability programme, they also earned professional barista and food hygiene and safety qualifications to boost their future job searches.
It’s long been recognised that care-experienced young people can face additional challenges when it comes to finding and maintaining employment.
Recognising this, the Council’s Education, Employment and Training Team launched Care2Work 15 years ago and has helped hundreds of care-experienced young people secure the confidence, skills and experience they need to progress their careers.
The young people took part in a range of team-building activities to help boost their confidence and develop the personal and professional skills they need to move into education, employment and training.
After an insight into local employment sectors and career pathways they could take, they enjoyed inspirational guest speakers including a rugby pundit, security professionals and representative from a range of sectors.
Thanks to funding from the Community Alcohol Partnership, the young people were offered the chance to secure accredited qualifications in Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety and Barista skills to add to their CVs!
Local businesses once again played an essential role in the success of the scheme, offering the young people work experience.
Long-standing supporters, including Alfred's Bar & Grill, Blueberry's Café, La Crazy Croissant, and South Wales Police, were joined by several new employers this year, such as HEIW, the Council’s Leisure and Tourism department and the coffee shops; YMa, Zucco's, and Cortile Coffee.
The difference the businesses, the work experience and the entire course made is summed up by the feedback from the young people.
One participant described the experience as “incredible” and said it had “set me up for life,” while another called it “amazing” and said they “wouldn’t change a single thing about it.” These powerful testimonials perfectly capture the difference the programme has made to those involved.
Cllr Gareth Caple, Cabinet Member for Social Care, said: “Care2Work has been running for 15 years and has helped to change the lives of hundreds of young people.
“This year has been yet another success, thanks to the incredible enthusiasm and commitment of the young people who have embraced every challenge and opportunity they were given.
“We are so grateful to the local businesses and Community Alcohol Partnership for their overwhelming support and generosity as they dedicated time to provide work experience, share their expertise and insights and deliver professional training. They have made a massive difference to young lives.
“And well done to our Education, Employment and Training Team, which was formed by the Council all those years ago to provide bespoke support to the young lives that need it the most. They continue to go from strength to strength, as demonstrated by recent awards from the Princess Royal Training Awards and the National Special Educational Needs and Disability Awards.”
Kylie from our Education, Employment and Training Team wrote a blog about this year’s Summer Employability Course. You can read it here.
Posted on 18/09/2026