Future Ready existed as a Northumberland pilot project running from April 24-April 25 commissioned by the North East Combined Authority and funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
As of April 2025, it exists as a commissionable employability intervention within our young people’s programme, and we are in the process of fundraising to make that happen.
Future Ready provides intensive and intentional employability enhancing interventions for young people aged 14-30 years old. Through our intervention models we use creative practice and social sciences to unlock young people’s potential and support their employability skills development.
We are open to connecting with organisations, youth settings and funders, who may be interested in commissioning young people’s employability interventions and day long sessions across 2025-2027.
To chat and connect email [email protected]
As of April 2025, it exists as a commissionable employability intervention within our young people’s programme, and we are in the process of fundraising to make that happen.
Future Ready provides intensive and intentional employability enhancing interventions for young people aged 14-30 years old. Through our intervention models we use creative practice and social sciences to unlock young people’s potential and support their employability skills development.
We are open to connecting with organisations, youth settings and funders, who may be interested in commissioning young people’s employability interventions and day long sessions across 2025-2027.
To chat and connect email [email protected]
CONNECT FUTURE READY PILOT PROJECT
Mortal Fools were one of 16 community-based funded projects engaging and supporting economically inactive and/or socially isolated residents that are furthest from the labour market, across the North of Tyne area. Each project was uniquely designed to be needs responsive and supported folks on their path to employment.
“Before Future Ready, I had no idea what I wanted to do and I didn’t think I would ever be able to get a job. I felt rubbish about myself all the time and talking about myself was too hard. After my time with Mortal Fools, I felt way more confident, and I realised that I can do stuff. The week helped me decide what I’m good at and what I’m interested in. A few months ago, I went to a college open day ON MY OWN, and a few weeks later, I smashed an interview getting a place on an Early Years and Nursery course in September. It’s nice to be excited about the future for once.”
- Future Ready Participant
Future Ready was a pilot project commissioned by North East Combined Authority funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund supporting and empowering economically inactive and/or socially isolated young people aged 16-30 years old in Northumberland on their employability journey.
“Mortal Fools offers young people in Northumberland the opportunity to explore their creative skills, share ideas with their peers, and develop their understanding of employer expectations and skills while enhancing their knowledge about how to successfully transition into work. For those uncertain of what may come next, or where to start, to be offered a safe space with quality support to broaden their horizons is invaluable. And for the young people who have engaged in their Future Ready employability programme, the experience has been highly impactful.”
- Vicki Clarke, Employment Partnership Coordinator,
Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council
THE IMPACT OF FUTURE READY
Future Ready project headlines:
- Across the project we supported 111 young people
- 53 young people took part in 5 intensive employability interventions.
- 31 young people completed x3 weeklong interventions and they achieved 26 Arts Award Bronze.
- We ran multiple Masterclass workshops for young people interested in artform skills development – we ran masterclasses in animation, music making, set and costume design.
- We hosted x3 consultation sessions inviting young people from education and community settings to share their insights and perspectives experiencing barriers to entering the workforce/employment. (Note downloadable report with this data will be available soon.)
- We developed effective employability partnerships with Dukes High School & Northumberland College.
- We developed referral partnerships with DWP, Groundwork North East, Kings Trust, Newcastle United Foundation, Northumberland Employability Network and Pride Action North East.
THE JOURNEY
Future Ready effectively targeted and supported young people who:
Across 5 interventions our Future Ready participants:
- Have intersectional needs
- Are socially isolated
- Identify as neurodivergent young people
- Have been previously homeschooled / non-school attenders
- Would benefit from a more supportive work experience/workplace readiness programme
- Would benefit from engaging in creative activities and thinking
- Are struggling with their mental health and feeling disempowered
- Are at the beginning of their employability journey
- Experience barriers on their employability journey
- Need a confidence boost
- Are interested in the creative industries / being more creative
- Would benefit from a needs-focused, supportive environment
Across 5 interventions our Future Ready participants:
- Experienced person centric support from Mortal Fools practitioners in response to individual needs.
- Took part in high quality employability interventions geared to their needs, wants and career interests.
- Found their voice and felt empowered in their employability journey.
- Increased their personal impact and boosted their confidence.
- Developed team working skills and met like-minded young people.
- Engaged in creative practical activities designed to explore and draw out personal strengths, career aspirations and actionable next steps.
- Engaged in Mortal Fools CONNECT training, focusing on developing presentation skills, interpersonal skills, communication skills, and resilience; all designed to move young people closer to workplace readiness.
- Explored attributes of creative youth leadership and empowerment.
- Worked towards Arts Award Bronze qualification – a recognised and confidence-boosting qualification, accredited by Trinity College London.
- Devised creative content with professional creatives.
- Learned about working in the creative industries by working with artists, theatre makers, production managers, practitioners & an animator!
- Benefitted from wrap-around support from Mortal Fools practitioners pre- and post-programme.
- Were referred onto other employability programmes (led by the interests and needs of participants) and supported to engage with further opportunities.
“Mortal Fools treat each and every young person as an individual and they really take the time to listen to them. Many of my students felt out of their comfort zone, but with the support of your wonderful staff they really came out of their shell and built their confidence. A great week was had by all!”
- Ziarlotte Gray-Johnson, Skills Development Coach (Work Placements), Northumberland College
CREATIVE OUTPUTS FROM EMPLOYABILITY INTERVENTIONS
During our Future Ready programmes across 2024-2025, some of the young people co-created animations with professional creatives that expressed something they wanted to say to the world about employability.
CONNECT Future Ready #1 at YMCA Northumberland, Ashington - October 2024
Participants developed their career skills, boosted their confidence and engaged in fun and empowering creative activities to support them on their employability journey.
The group created the fantastic video below exploring their strengths and insecurities, and how organisations can support young people entering the workforce to thrive!
Participants developed their career skills, boosted their confidence and engaged in fun and empowering creative activities to support them on their employability journey.
The group created the fantastic video below exploring their strengths and insecurities, and how organisations can support young people entering the workforce to thrive!
CONNECT Future Ready #2 at YMCA Northumberland, Ashington – November 2024
Finding a job, can feel like tackling the final boss in a game you’re barely levelled up for. But like with any game, you can master it with practice! That’s what our Future Ready group #2 realised during their time spent taking part in a weeklong young people’s employability intervention.
As this group was interested in gaming, they found it helpful to explore getting a job and progressing in your career, like a challenging computer game. They reimagined all of the seemingly impossible steps young people often face to get their first job as a game, and considered how they might mirror their in-game capabilities (creativity, persistence, strategic thinking, managing failure, responsiveness etc) in the world of work!
Finding a job, can feel like tackling the final boss in a game you’re barely levelled up for. But like with any game, you can master it with practice! That’s what our Future Ready group #2 realised during their time spent taking part in a weeklong young people’s employability intervention.
As this group was interested in gaming, they found it helpful to explore getting a job and progressing in your career, like a challenging computer game. They reimagined all of the seemingly impossible steps young people often face to get their first job as a game, and considered how they might mirror their in-game capabilities (creativity, persistence, strategic thinking, managing failure, responsiveness etc) in the world of work!
CONNECT: Future Ready #3 at YMCA in Ashington - January 2025
We challenged our Future Ready cohort #3 to communicate creatively why employers should employ young people in the workplace.
Our cohort of Northumberland College students, ESOL students and Northumberland young people worked with our Mortal Fools practitioners and professional animator Lily Mae Kroese to encapsulate their fresh, interesting insights via this persuasive animation. By giving young people, a chance in the workplace, organisations are investing in the future and fostering a diverse and dynamic workforce.
Our cohort of Northumberland College students, ESOL students and Northumberland young people worked with our Mortal Fools practitioners and professional animator Lily Mae Kroese to encapsulate their fresh, interesting insights via this persuasive animation. By giving young people, a chance in the workplace, organisations are investing in the future and fostering a diverse and dynamic workforce.
CONNECT: Future Ready at Dukes High School - January 2025
The radio advert below was created by a Future Ready employability programme participant; it champions reasons for employers to take a chance and employ more young people into the workplace. This young person’s recording was then brought to life visually by professional animator and Mortal Fools associate artist Sheryl Jenkins.
We are eager to build a brighter future by embracing the potential of youth employability, transforming today's aspirations into tomorrow's achievements.
The radio advert below was created by a Future Ready employability programme participant; it champions reasons for employers to take a chance and employ more young people into the workplace. This young person’s recording was then brought to life visually by professional animator and Mortal Fools associate artist Sheryl Jenkins.
We are eager to build a brighter future by embracing the potential of youth employability, transforming today's aspirations into tomorrow's achievements.
NEXT STEPS...
Our Future Ready programme is commissionable by schools, youth settings, funders and North East Local Authorities.
Team Mortal Fools are also in the process of fundraising so we can continue our Northumberland place-based employability work.
To chat and connect, email [email protected]
Team Mortal Fools are also in the process of fundraising so we can continue our Northumberland place-based employability work.
To chat and connect, email [email protected]
