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16.
July
2021.
What’s Next? New education, employment, training and volunteering one-stop-shop

16/7/21

A new one-stop-shop, pulling together information that will help young people decide their next steps, has launched today.

 

‘What's Next?' is a new platform for 16 to 24-year-olds, containing information on education, employment, training and other opportunities in Cardiff all in one place making it quicker and easier for young people to find out options available to them when considering their futures.

 

The platform has been developed by the Cardiff Commitment - the Council initiative that brings together the public, private and third sectors in partnership, with schools and education providers, to connect children and young people to the vast range of opportunities available in education, training and the world of work. The site's creation is part of the city's post-pandemic economic recovery plans, which include a focus upon supporting young people that may be negatively affected in the short and medium term by job losses in the city and the wider region due to COVID-19.

 

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: "The What's Next? platform will support young people with plenty of knowledge and direction as they consider their future options and help to raise the aspirations at a time when many may be feeling uncertain and anxious about the impact of the pandemic on their futures.

 

"There is a wealth of different opportunities available in the city and this new site seeks to signpost young people to those opportunities, whether it be continuing their education in Sixth Form, a college course, university, gaining work experience, traineeships, graduate schemes, apprenticeships and more. There's even a section on starting your own business.

 

"We want this to be the ‘Go-To' place for all our young people when they are considering ‘what next?'"

 

Regular updates will be made to the new site, which will continue to develop over time as more and more provision and opportunities become available. Cardiff Commitment is working closely with Cardiff Capital Region partners to provide young people with information on growth sector opportunities and the skills and qualifications that will be needed for these roles in the future.

 

A short animation to promote the new platform and signpost young people to the site has been produced, with help from young people working with Cardiff Youth Service at St Mellons Hub. The young people were fully involved in the production of the short clip, including providing the voiceovers for the characters, which shows a group of friends considering their next steps and their pal Brandon introducing them to the What's Next? platform.

 

To watch the short animation go to https://youtu.be/xncskRbUm2Q and for more information on What's Next? visit the new platform at www.cardiff.gov.uk/whatsnext