Emma is shy by nature. She prefers the comfort of putting on her headphones and listening to her favourite album than conversing.
Before engaging with Routes to Work, Emma faced challenges at school. She felt neglected and overlooked in her crucial final years of study.
"With school, they would just pay more attention to the people that were already doing a little better and weren't giving us...as much of a chance to get better,” she explains.
Emma felt this the hardest at exam time.
“I picked Accounting at the start of S3, when we were given our options, and I really liked the class,” she continues.
“I was doing pretty well in it as well. I was getting between 90% and 100% in all the tests.
“But when it came to the exam, I wasn't allowed to sit it because I failed the prelim, because I just had a mind blank because I was nervous.”
This stifled her progress and affected her self-esteem.
Emma's journey with Routes To Work began unexpectedly through her mother, who was contacted by Johnny, a case worker on the Destination Success programme.
“Johnny was giving me solutions instead of setbacks. He's just been constantly reminding me to keep going and make sure that I'm on track with it all," Emma said.
So what is Destination Success?
Destination Success is a pilot initiative by Routes To Work aimed at aiding young people like Emma who are at risk of not sustaining their post-school plans.
The program provides tailored 1-2-1 support, helping participants manage their educational and employment pathways effectively.
Johnny says: “Destination Success is about helping young people remain on track in their chosen destination, navigate challenges of college, work, and training."
He goes on to talk about the importance of place-based support, meeting young people where they are.
“I think it's effective if you go and meet them in the schools and you bring an outside world perspective,” he explains
“Teachers used to complain to me: ‘Oh, you're so lucky, Johnny. You just get parachuted in and parachuted out.’ And there's an element of that.
“But we go in and we talk about the world of work. We show them what it looks like, how to search for jobs, kind of dispel the myths.”
The impact of Emma's involvement in Destination Success has been profound.
She has not only stayed on course with her college studies but has also grown in confidence, engaging in activities that previously seemed daunting.
She now helps run boxercise classes, a role that builds her leadership and public speaking skills.
Her part-time job in HMV has helped her build the confidence to speak to new people, as well as essential customer service skills.
Reflecting on the support she received, Emma noted, "It's really helpfull to have someone who believes I can do that."
Johnny agrees: “So, it's that famous phrase, isn't it? “If one person believes in you, amazing things can happen,” he smiles.
“So, I totally and unequivocally believe in Emma. I think she's got so much potential. It's up to Emma to develop that potential.
“But that's what we do at Routes To Work. As I say, it's not just about jobs. It's about the potential, and I just see the confidence growing every week with Emma. That inspires me.”
Through Destination Success, Emma has grown in confidence and skills to pursue her dreams of becoming an accountant.
This initiative not only supports individual growth but also illustrates the broader impact of Routes to Works’ commitment to nurturing the next generation.