This July, Barnardo’s is launching a new round of its JOBS Project in Coventry—a programme that’s not just about getting young people into work, but about building their confidence, giving them skills for life, and offering real chances at long-term employment.
Led by Arun Shoker, Project Worker for Banardos, the JOBS Project is an 8-week journey for up to 10 young people aged between 18 and 29 (or 17 if turning 18 during the programme). It’s designed for those who may be facing some of the toughest challenges—young people who are homeless, sofa surfing, staying in temporary accommodation or at real risk of becoming homeless.
What makes this programme stand out is that it doesn’t just talk about employability—it opens doors. Everyone on the course is guaranteed an interview at the Amazon fulfilment centre (BHX4). And if they’ve attended at least 80% of the sessions and pass that interview, they’re guaranteed a full-time, permanent role. For anyone who doesn’t want to go down the Amazon route, Arun will still support them to find other job opportunities—though these may not come with the same guaranteed outcome.
Throughout the 8 weeks, participants get hands-on support with everything from building their CV and preparing for interviews, to developing personal confidence, communication skills, and a better understanding of what working life is like. It’s less about meeting requirements and more about building real readiness for work and life..
The programme also helps with the practical stuff. Many young people might not have everything they need to get started such as ID, a bank account, or a national insurance number. That’s OK. There’s a fund in place to help sort these out, along with travel support, food vouchers and anything else they might need to get the most out of the programme.
There are a few things young people need to have before enrolling: the right to work in the UK, a good level of English, and a willingness to commit to the programme. They must also be ready and able to work in a warehouse environment and not have worked for Amazon before.
Arun is reaching out to organisations across Coventry who work with young people experiencing homelessness, asking for help in spreading the word. If you know someone who could benefit, or if you’d like to explore how your organisation could refer or collaborate, he’d love to hear from you.
📧 arun.shoker@barnardos.org.uk
📞 07542 087437
This programme offers more than training. It helps young people find direction, grow in confidence, and prepare for what’s ahead..