Congratulations to the eight young people who excelled themselves on a recent employability skills initiative.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Work and Skills Team joined forces with the Jobcentre Plus Youth Hub in Porth and The King’s Trust charity to help a group of young people develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed in their search for employment.
The young people, who were already being supported by the Work and Skills team, were nominated for the course to help them further overcome some of the barriers to employment they were facing, such as low confidence, isolation and uncertainty about their future careers.
Over the five weeks of the course, the participants went from being initially quiet and reserved, to embracing the opportunity, taking part in group discussions, sharing their views and ambitions and doing brilliantly at mock interviews designed to prepare them for future employment opportunities.
The course also gave the young people a chance to make new friendships, which still stand to this day, and benefit from positive peer support.
Each of them enjoyed a visit to The King’s Trust in Cardiff, where they learned more about the range of support available to them from the charity, which works to support young people into employment and even launch their own businesses and careers. Actor Idris Elba and music producer Naughty Boy are among those whose careers were launched following support from The King’s Trust.
The visit enabled them to meet the staff, see what support they could gain and also get used to independent travel to and from venues. Six of the eight participants have signed up for further support – we can’t wait to hear how they get on.
Another participant, Cameron, landed a job just weeks after completing the course and said the boost in confidence he secured there helped him land his new role.
Cllr Scott Emanuel, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, said: “What an incredible opportunity and confidence boost for the young job seekers we are supporting.
“The King’s Trust has helped to launch the careers of many young people and I am so pleased so many of the group have signed up for additional support – I wish each of them the very best of luck and cannot wait to hear how they are getting on.
“Our Work and Skills team is here for anyone aged 16 and over who needs support towards employment. This can be with practical skills such as interview techniques and CV workshops, additional training and qualifications to add to their CV or land their dream role or upskilling while in their role. It’s free, its easy to access and there is loads on offer.”
A spokesperson from The King's Trust Cardiff Centre said:
"We thoroughly enjoyed having a group of young people join us at The King's Trust Centre in Cardiff. We found this successful for recruiting young people onto our programmes, with several signing up for our Explore programme. It was also beneficial in removing the initial barrier of travelling to our centre for the first time."
Kathy, Youth Work Coach at Porth Jobcentre Plus, praised the collaboration, saying:
"The RCT Work & Skills Team have been amazing, with fantastic results. We have had regular updates throughout the programme, and it has been wonderful to see the difference this course has made to our customers. A great example of partnership working."
The initiative demonstrates the positive impact that targeted support and strong partnership working can have in helping young people overcome barriers, improve their wellbeing and move closer to employment, education and training opportunities. Through collaborative working, young people have been equipped with the skills, confidence and support networks needed to realise their potential and achieve their ambitions.
if you are supporting a RCT resident aged 16+ who could benefit from the support of Work and Skills then contact Workandskills@rctcbc.gov.uk
Posted on 18/09/2026