Success story
Words for Work helps Haydn prepare for his future
Haydn, aged 15, was selected to take part in our Words for Work programme when he was in his final year at Bishop David Brown School in Woking.
Words for Work
Words for Work challenges the inequality in employment opportunities for young people, giving them the communication skills they need to be successful in the workplace.
About the programme
Research shows that young people entering the workplace often lack the speaking and listening skills to communicate successfully.
Words for Work:
- Demonstrates the importance of literacy for success in employment by providing workplace context for students
- Improves young people’s oral and written communication skills through activities lead by teachers and supported by corporate volunteers
- Gives young people confidence in their own abilities and raises their career aspirations
The programme is designed for Key Stage 3 and post-16 students. KS3 students will work with local business volunteers in their school, while post-16 students will have the opportunity to visit a local business to learn about workplace communication.
“I found the Words for Work programme a huge success and a pleasure to be a part of. It was incredible to see how quickly their confidence flourished and how much enjoyment and experience the students got from the programme. I recommend any school to be a part of this programme; it really does ignite a fire in students that you wouldn't typically see.”
Emma Bowler, St Peters Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
Get involved
Schools and colleges
If you are interested in running Words for Work in your school, please join our waiting list.
Volunteers
Local business volunteers from a wide range of professions and industries can take part in Words for Work.
Corporate partners
Corporate partners play a significant role in supporting Words for Work, funding the project in local schools, hosting visits at their sites and providing volunteers.
Who does Words for Work help?
Words for Work has numerous benefits for people across local communities:
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Students
Words for Work helps students to adapt their communication skills to suit the workplace, boosting their future employment prospects.
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Schools and colleges
Students’ confidence and speaking skills are improved through working with local business volunteers.
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Businesses
Words for Work enables businesses to contribute directly to their future workforce and can form a part of CSR activity.
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Employees
Through working with young people, Words for Work helps employees build their coaching skills, helping to improve communication at work.
Success stories
Read more about how Words for Work has impacted students, schools and businesses.
Success story
Local volunteers help Middlesbrough pupils raise their aspirations
The National Literacy Trust partnered with Macmillan Academy in Middlesbrough in summer 2018 to run the Key Stage 3 Words for Work programme.
Success story
Grange Technology College runs Words for Work three years in a row
Grange Technology College, a secondary school in Bradford, have taken part in our Words for Work programme three years in a row, working with volunteers from a range of local organisations.