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I want help to find a job

Looking for a job can feel overwhelming, but there are organisations and programmes that can help you every step of the way. Whether you need support to build your confidence, develop work skills, create a CV, prepare for interviews or find suitable job opportunities, there is help available.

This section includes employment support services across Hampshire and nationally, including specialist support for young people and adults with additional needs. Explore the opportunities available through organisations to help you take the next step towards employment.

The King’s Trust (formerly The Prince’s Trust) is a UK charity that supports young people aged 16–30 who may be facing barriers to education, employment or training. According to the organisation, its aim is to help young people build the confidence, skills and opportunities they need to move forward in life.

How it helps young people

Finding work

The King's Trust offers programmes, training and support to help young people:

  • Develop employability skills
  • Build confidence for interviews
  • Gain work experience
  • Connect with employers
  • Find jobs and apprenticeships

The charity particularly focuses on young people who may be unemployed, lack qualifications, or face other challenges that make it harder to enter work.

Education and training

Young people can access:

  • Free courses
  • Skills development programmes
  • Personal development opportunities
  • Training linked to specific careers or industries

These programmes are designed to help young people gain qualifications, practical skills and greater confidence.

Starting a business

The charity also supports young entrepreneurs by providing:

  • Business advice
  • Mentoring
  • Help developing business ideas
  • Access to networks and support

Helping young people start their own business has been a long-standing part of the Trust's work.

Mentoring and trusted adults

A major part of the Trust's support is connecting young people with:

  • Mentors
  • Coaches
  • Trusted adults who can provide guidance

The Trust states that this support helps young people navigate important transitions and build resilience and confidence.

They can help with:

  • Employability support
  • Confidence-building programmes
  • Personal development opportunities
  • Mentoring
  • Pathways into work and self-employment

You can find their young people's support page here: The King's Trust – How We Can Help.

The King’s Trust (formerly The Prince’s Trust) is a UK charity that supports young people aged 16–30 who may be facing barriers to education, employment or training. According to the organisation, its aim is to help young people build the confidence, skills and opportunities they need to move forward in life.

How it helps young people

Finding work

The King's Trust offers programmes, training and support to help young people:

  • Develop employability skills
  • Build confidence for interviews
  • Gain work experience
  • Connect with employers
  • Find jobs and apprenticeships

The charity particularly focuses on young people who may be unemployed, lack qualifications, or face other challenges that make it harder to enter work.

Education and training

Young people can access:

  • Free courses
  • Skills development programmes
  • Personal development opportunities
  • Training linked to specific careers or industries

These programmes are designed to help young people gain qualifications, practical skills and greater confidence.

Starting a business

The charity also supports young entrepreneurs by providing:

  • Business advice
  • Mentoring
  • Help developing business ideas
  • Access to networks and support

Helping young people start their own business has been a long-standing part of the Trust's work.

Mentoring and trusted adults

A major part of the Trust's support is connecting young people with:

  • Mentors
  • Coaches
  • Trusted adults who can provide guidance

The Trust states that this support helps young people navigate important transitions and build resilience and confidence.

They can help with:

  • Employability support
  • Confidence-building programmes
  • Personal development opportunities
  • Mentoring
  • Pathways into work and self-employment

You can find their young people's support page here: The King's Trust – How We Can Help.

Kickstart Springboard supports young people who are unemployed.

All programmes are completely free and include:

  • Soft skills and confidence building training
  • Employability skills training – CVs, interview skills, effective job hunt
  • Hospitality related certified e-learning
  • 121 mentoring and coaching
  • Guaranteed interviews with hospitality employers recruiting now
  • Hospitality related accredited qualifications

Visit Kickstart springboard

Kickstart Springboard supports young people who are unemployed.

All programmes are completely free and include:

  • Soft skills and confidence building training
  • Employability skills training – CVs, interview skills, effective job hunt
  • Hospitality related certified e-learning
  • 121 mentoring and coaching
  • Guaranteed interviews with hospitality employers recruiting now
  • Hospitality related accredited qualifications

Visit Kickstart springboard

Safe New Futures offers a free, gentle, and structured 6‑month programme designed to help young people rebuild confidence, overcome personal barriers, and take positive next steps towards education, work or training.

This programme is suitable for young people who may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of their future. Many participants struggle with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or social barriers — and we’re here to help them move at a pace that feels safe and supportive.

How the Programme Helps

A combination of group CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) with practical vocational skills, give young people both emotional tools and real‑world skills to help them progress.

Your young person will learn how to:

  • Build confidence and self-belief
  • Manage anxiety and low mood
  • Set achievable goals
  • Explore education, training, or work pathways
  • Develop practical skills for their future

Programme at a Glance

  • Duration: 6 months
  • Who it’s for: Young people aged 16+ who are NEET, unemployed, or at risk, including those with SEN
  • Cost: Completely free — all materials and tech support included

Visit Safe New Futures

Safe New Futures offers a free, gentle, and structured 6‑month programme designed to help young people rebuild confidence, overcome personal barriers, and take positive next steps towards education, work or training.

This programme is suitable for young people who may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of their future. Many participants struggle with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or social barriers — and we’re here to help them move at a pace that feels safe and supportive.

How the Programme Helps

A combination of group CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) with practical vocational skills, give young people both emotional tools and real‑world skills to help them progress.

Your young person will learn how to:

  • Build confidence and self-belief
  • Manage anxiety and low mood
  • Set achievable goals
  • Explore education, training, or work pathways
  • Develop practical skills for their future

Programme at a Glance

  • Duration: 6 months
  • Who it’s for: Young people aged 16+ who are NEET, unemployed, or at risk, including those with SEN
  • Cost: Completely free — all materials and tech support included

Visit Safe New Futures

No Limits provides free support for young people aged up to 25 across Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. They offer advice and practical support to help young people explore education, training, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Their Education and Employment support includes:

  • Help finding education, training and employment opportunities
  • CV writing and job application support
  • Interview preparation
  • Referrals to training and work experience opportunities
  • Volunteering information and opportunities
  • Access to computers and internet facilities through their Advice Centre
  • A dedicated Work Club for young people aged 16–25
  • One-to-one employment support through their Individual Placement Support (IPS) service for eligible young people already receiving mental health support from No Limits.

Who is it for?

  • Young people aged 16–25 who would like support with education, training or employment.
  • Young people who may need additional support to build confidence, explore options, or prepare for work.

Find out more No Limits Education and Employment

No Limits provides free support for young people aged up to 25 across Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. They offer advice and practical support to help young people explore education, training, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Their Education and Employment support includes:

  • Help finding education, training and employment opportunities
  • CV writing and job application support
  • Interview preparation
  • Referrals to training and work experience opportunities
  • Volunteering information and opportunities
  • Access to computers and internet facilities through their Advice Centre
  • A dedicated Work Club for young people aged 16–25
  • One-to-one employment support through their Individual Placement Support (IPS) service for eligible young people already receiving mental health support from No Limits.

Who is it for?

  • Young people aged 16–25 who would like support with education, training or employment.
  • Young people who may need additional support to build confidence, explore options, or prepare for work.

Find out more No Limits Education and Employment

The Hampshire IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Employment Service helps people with mental health needs to find, stay in or return to employment, education, training or volunteering. The service specialises in supporting people who are living with or recovering from mental ill health and who would like help to achieve their employment goals.

The service provides personalised one-to-one support, including:

  • Help identifying the type of work you would like to do.
  • Job searching and finding suitable opportunities.
  • CV, application form and cover letter support.
  • Interview preparation.
  • Advice about how employment may affect benefits.
  • Support with discussing mental health needs and requesting reasonable adjustments.
  • Ongoing support once employment starts to help people settle into work and overcome challenges.

The service focuses on helping people find employment that matches their interests, strengths and goals, while providing support for as long as needed after a job starts.

Who is it for?

  • People aged 18 and over.
  • People receiving support from Community Mental Health Teams in Hampshire.
  • People who would like support to find, keep or return to work, education, training or volunteering opportunities.

How to access the service If you are receiving support from a Community Mental Health Team in Hampshire, speak to your clinician about a referral to the Hampshire IPS Employment Service.

Find out more about Hampshire IPS Employment Service 

The Hampshire IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Employment Service helps people with mental health needs to find, stay in or return to employment, education, training or volunteering. The service specialises in supporting people who are living with or recovering from mental ill health and who would like help to achieve their employment goals.

The service provides personalised one-to-one support, including:

  • Help identifying the type of work you would like to do.
  • Job searching and finding suitable opportunities.
  • CV, application form and cover letter support.
  • Interview preparation.
  • Advice about how employment may affect benefits.
  • Support with discussing mental health needs and requesting reasonable adjustments.
  • Ongoing support once employment starts to help people settle into work and overcome challenges.

The service focuses on helping people find employment that matches their interests, strengths and goals, while providing support for as long as needed after a job starts.

Who is it for?

  • People aged 18 and over.
  • People receiving support from Community Mental Health Teams in Hampshire.
  • People who would like support to find, keep or return to work, education, training or volunteering opportunities.

How to access the service If you are receiving support from a Community Mental Health Team in Hampshire, speak to your clinician about a referral to the Hampshire IPS Employment Service.

Find out more about Hampshire IPS Employment Service 

The ELSSE Project, delivered by Solent Youth Action, provides tailored support for vulnerable young people aged 10–18 living in Eastleigh. The project supports young people from economically disadvantaged households through a combination of:

  • Weekly targeted workshops
  • One-to-one support
  • Supported volunteering opportunities

The programme aims to improve young people's social, emotional and economic outcomes by helping them develop confidence, life skills, resilience and positive relationships.

Solent Youth Action works with young people across Hampshire, including young people with disabilities, mental health needs and other additional support needs. The organisation supports young people to develop skills, contribute to their communities and take part in positive youth-led projects.

Who is it for?

  • Vulnerable young people aged 10–18.
  • Young people who may benefit from additional support to develop emotional wellbeing, life skills, confidence and social skills.

Find out more The ELSSE Project

The ELSSE Project, delivered by Solent Youth Action, provides tailored support for vulnerable young people aged 10–18 living in Eastleigh. The project supports young people from economically disadvantaged households through a combination of:

  • Weekly targeted workshops
  • One-to-one support
  • Supported volunteering opportunities

The programme aims to improve young people's social, emotional and economic outcomes by helping them develop confidence, life skills, resilience and positive relationships.

Solent Youth Action works with young people across Hampshire, including young people with disabilities, mental health needs and other additional support needs. The organisation supports young people to develop skills, contribute to their communities and take part in positive youth-led projects.

Who is it for?

  • Vulnerable young people aged 10–18.
  • Young people who may benefit from additional support to develop emotional wellbeing, life skills, confidence and social skills.

Find out more The ELSSE Project

Marks & Spencer has launched the Not Just Any Career programme, which provides structured development opportunities for young people aged 18–24. 

The programme:

  • Requires no university degree.
  • Provides six months of development and training.
  • Offers practical workplace experience.
  • Builds leadership and management skills.
  • Creates pathways into long-term careers with M&S. 

This can be a valuable option for young people looking to gain experience and progress into management without attending university. 

More information 

Marks & Spencer has launched the Not Just Any Career programme, which provides structured development opportunities for young people aged 18–24. 

The programme:

  • Requires no university degree.
  • Provides six months of development and training.
  • Offers practical workplace experience.
  • Builds leadership and management skills.
  • Creates pathways into long-term careers with M&S. 

This can be a valuable option for young people looking to gain experience and progress into management without attending university. 

More information