Strive 4 Success: Helping Young People Build Bright Futures

14 September 2026

For many young people across the Vale, stepping into a professional workplace can be a valuable first glimpse of what comes next. It can be a space to build confidence, spark an interest in a career they had never considered and help turn uncertainty about the future into a sense of possibility.

That is the ambition behind Strive 4 Success, a new Vale of Glamorgan Council programme connecting young people with meaningful, longer-term work experience across Council services.

The programme will give pupils the chance to experience the workplace, develop practical and employability skills, build professional networks and gain a clearer understanding of their options after Year 11, all while helping Council teams connect with and support the workforce of the future.

Why It Matters

The transition from school to further education, employment or training can be challenging. Without the right support and opportunities, some young people can become disengaged and harder to reach.

National statistics show that 17% of 16–24-year-olds in Wales were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the year ending December 2025, an increase of 5.5 percentage points on the previous year.

Strive 4 Success aims to intervene early by giving young people real workplace experience while they are still at school, helping them build positive destinations beyond Year 11.

Creating a Council-wide Work Experience Hub

The Council is seeking to become a leading work experience hub, drawing on the skills and expertise across our services.

Departments are being invited to host a young person for one or two days a week, for a minimum of 12 weeks. Longer-term placements will give participants the opportunity to build relationships, develop skills and gain a genuine understanding of the workplace.

Young people will have opportunities to:

• Build confidence and workplace readiness
• Develop employability and transferable skills
• Explore careers and future pathways
• Gain experience in a professional environment
• Build networks and understand different roles
• Learn more about post-16 education, employment and training

For Council teams, placements also offer an opportunity to connect with future apprentices, trainees and employees, support staff development through mentoring and coaching, and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to social value and our communities.

Victoria Davidson, Monitoring Officer and Head of Legal and Democratic Services, said: “One particularly rewarding example has been supporting a care leaver through an apprenticeship pathway. We were privileged to help nurture and develop their skills, confidence and experience, ultimately seeing them progress into a permanent position within the Council.”

Supporting the Vale 2030 Vision

Strive 4 Success supports the Council’s Vale 2030 priorities, including:

• Giving everyone a good start in life
• Creating great places to live, work and visit
• Supporting and protecting those who need us

By investing in young people now, we can help develop a skilled, confident and resilient future workforce for the Vale of Glamorgan.

The programme also supports the Council’s responsibilities under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, helping to deliver positive social value within our communities.

Support for Participating Teams

The Strive Youth Pathway Team will work closely with departments throughout each placement. Support will include:

• Matching young people with suitable placements based on their interests and aspirations
• Preparing participants for workplace expectations, including attendance, confidentiality and professional conduct
• Providing a named project worker and dedicated contact
• Supporting safeguarding, risk assessment and insurance requirements
• Supporting supervising and mentoring officers
• Liaising with schools and monitoring attendance
• Supporting end-of-placement reviews, evaluation and references

Get Involved

Strive 4 Success has the potential to make a real difference to young people across the Vale while helping Council teams develop future talent and deliver our strategic priorities.

Over the coming weeks, Naomi McGarrigle and Sarah Fraser will be visiting departments and contacting teams to introduce the programme and discuss becoming a placement partner.

Colleagues are also invited to attend one of the launch sessions to find out more, ask questions and register their department as a work experience partner.

Launch Sessions

• Dates: 21, 23 and 25 September
• Time: 9:30–10:30am
• Location: Dunraven Room, Civic Offices

To find out more, you can contact:

• pathway@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
• nemcgarrigle@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
• Sfraser@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk