For over 200 years Catch22 has designed and delivered services that build resilience and aspiration in people and communities. Our approach is based on the 3Ps. We believe people can thrive when they have good people, a purpose, and a good place to live.
We work across the UK with individuals and employers to get the right people into the right jobs in the right places. Through our extensive network of local and national
partners, we go out into communities to support individuals who face barriers to work, such as those who have:
We help individuals who are struggling to find employment, many of whom have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim is to ensure everyone is given the opportunity to find a career that suits their individuality. They receive guidance on future career pathways and the benefits of being back in the workplace.
Barclays LifeSkills
Catch22 is a delivery partner for Barclays LifeSkills, helping to support individuals who are facing barriers to work, into a job or apprenticeship. Working on both sides of the recruitment process, it provides tailored skills training for individuals (over 16 years) and connects them with employers who are recruiting but struggling to find candidates specifically trained, skilled and motivated for their workforce.
“I would just like to say a big ‘Thank you’ to my advisors. They have helped me enormously. Back in June, I was made redundant due to COVID-19. I felt really down and thought ‘What am I going to do?’ My advisors have been such an inspiration to me and I can’t thank them enough.
– LifeSkills participant, Liverpool
This year, we placed 390 clients in to employment, 320 clients that have sustained 26 weeks in work, at a sustainment rate of 60%.
“This journey has been filled with challenges, knowledge, wisdom and opportunity resulting in a new found direction.”
– LifeSkills participant, London
Digital Edge
Digital Edge is a programme delivered by Catch22 in partnership with Microsoft, which helps people facing barriers to work embark on digital apprenticeships. The project sees Catch22 find and recruit candidates with a range of challenges – from gender and ethnicity barriers, homelessness, mental health issues, school exclusion and disability – and support them to access a digital apprenticeship with a local employer within Microsoft’s network of customers and partners.
The pilot project launched in January 2020, reaching out to people aged 18 to 25 in London and Manchester through job centres. The initial pilot phase of 23 trainees undertook a four-week training programme, building both the technical and employability skills required to gain a digital apprenticeship with a local employer within Microsoft’s network of customers and partners. The majority were from disadvantaged backgrounds, 13 were of minority ethnic origin, two had learning difficulties and one was disabled. Four were women.
“The Digital Edge programme has been really supportive and creative in the way that they work. It provides a stimulating environment with big opportunities to make a huge impact. The team supported me to complete online IT courses and gain virtual work experience.
– Digital Edge participant
The trainees learnt to present themselves positively (including through social media), write a good CV and cover letter, prepare for interviews, problemsolve and work in a team, while developing digital skills and commercial awareness. The course was initially delivered in person, and later remotely using Microsoft Teams in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that everyone was able to participate and graduate, despite social distancing and travel restrictions.
Overall, from the Digital Edge pilot project, three people have gone on to gain an apprenticeship, including two with Microsoft or their partners, and one is planning to undertake further qualifications.
Given the success of the pilot, the programme has now been extended to cover Birmingham and Bristol – and now supports people not only intro apprenticeships but also into other job roles.
“I found the Digital Edge programme good because I met new people while I was there. It got me working with new people and in activities and watching videos on helpful tips and workshops about digital and technology.”
– Digital Edge participant
Bright Light
Bright Light is a pilot programme focused on getting care leavers into apprenticeships. It is a partnership project delivered by Catch22 and The Children’s Society, funded by The Clothworkers’ Foundation. It explores what more is needed to support care leavers into independence and includes career opportunities, apprenticeships, employment, education and training – and the systemic barriers that impact on this.
The programme delivers intensive support to care leavers, including workshops on CV writing and interview techniques, one-to-one support with applications and This year we’ve worked with more than 130 care leavers on the programme and placed into employment, apprenticeships and education.
We’ve taken part in All Party Parliamentary Group evidence sessions on the impact of COVID-19 on care leavers, supported Catch22’s ‘Keep Care Leavers Connected’ campaign which successfully secured an extension of the Government’s scheme to provide digital devices and data to vulnerable groups (including care leavers) and held an online policy event bringing together care leavers, employers and policy makers.
“I’ve no doubt that Joel will flourish in his new role – not only because he’s a really capable lad, but because he knows what opportunities Arcus FM has opened up for him and that he can have a lifelong career when his apprenticeship has finished.”
– Career Coach, Bright Light
The Social Switch Project
Our innovative programme switches the narrative on how social media’s relationship to youth violence is understood, tackled and solved. Initially funded by Google.org, it is co-delivered by ourselves and youth violence charity Redthread.
“Thank you for the opportunity; courses with this support make young adults feel like the industry has our back in some ways – and that hopefully was projected in my final project.”
– The Social Switch Project participant
Recognising our impact, last year the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit is now supporting our next phrase, backing our work to divert at-risk young people towards fulfilling digital careers. The programme has three elements – a digital skills pre-employability training designed to channel the creativity of London’s youth, an interactive training for professionals working with young people in London to help them apply best practice offline to the digital world and a grants for individuals or organisations that have creative ideas to support young people at risk of being affected by violence.
In the last year 750 frontline professionals and 65 young people were trained by the programme. 40 grants, totalling £99,500 were awarded to organisations – directly helping 1,672 at risk young people.
“I really enjoyed doing this training and meeting new people. Also, learning and contributing to group projects. The tutors were excellent, taught well, made the experience fun, and were very encouraging.”
– The Social Switch Project participant
Catch22 Colleges
We run seven colleges for learners aged 16-19 year olds which are focused on the education and employment goals of our individual learners. Last year, we worked with 378 learners, delivering more than 1,000 qualifications. 74% of our learners professed to a positive destination.
“I really enjoy going to Catch22. I have done some brilliant work experience at the hospital, which has really helped my confidence.”
– Learner at Catch22 College
We work with students to develop a tailored learning programme which is matched to their interests and goals for the future. Students can pick from a range of learning options covering five key areas:
- Functional skills
- Vocational qualification
- Life skills
- Work experience
- Progression
“I didn’t go to school for over four years before I came here. Catch22 has got me back into education. I can’t thank them enough.”
– Learner at Catch22 College
Our learners have enjoyed courses on life skills and wellbeing, employability skills, IT skills, construction, land-based studies, hair and beauty, hospitality and catering – as well as English and Math functional skills. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting studies for the latter part of the College year, we provided a mix of in-school teaching for our most vulnerable children, homework packs and online learning.
“The staff are able to get the very best from students. As a parent, it is stress-free knowing your child is at Catch22.”
– Parent of a learner at Catch22 College: Maidstone
Having a device to use for home schooling was a major barrier for many of our pupils. Through our partnership with Raspberry Pi, we were able to secure 250 devices for our college students to help them continue their learning effectively.
“I think that Catch22 is a great place to learn. I got on a lot better here than I did in mainstream school. I also think they provide a lot more support for after you leave school and for your future.”
– Learner at Catch22 College: Maidstone
National Citizen Service
We revised our programme to emphasise volunteering and community needs, and young people rose to the challenge. While not being able to be on site for NCS, hundreds of young people made the most of their NCS time with Catch22.
- 89% said they’ve been able to take part in something that has a lasting impact
- 80% of participants said after NCS they are more likely to help their local community
- 92% of young people on our NCS programmes were able to develop skills relevant for their future
“I’m so glad I got involved… it’s an amazing way to spend the summer, helping the local community and gaining life experience.”
– Matthew, aged 16
Catch22 is the largest delivery partner for NCS – covering 6 regions across England and engaging nearly 2,500 young people last year. Despite the immense challenges of 2020, our teams ensured that this year’s NCS Keep Doing Good Programme allowed young people to meet new people, challenge themselves and try extraordinary things.
We revised our programme to emphasise volunteering and community needs, and young people rose to the challenge. While not being able to be on site for NCS, hundreds of young people made the most of their NCS time with Catch22.
Every young person on the NCS programme completes 30 hours of social action in the form of local community, volunteering or fundraising work:
Transforming outdoor space
In Liverpool, participants supported the upkeep of a local park in West Kirby. To highlight the importance of outside space for physical and mental wellbeing during COVID-19, the NCS team worked with Friends of Grange Community Park to weed, tidy, and plant daffodils and snowdrops to make areas of the park more appealing to the public. They promoted their great work on social media and shared how locals can support their efforts in the local community.
Building partnerships
An exciting partnership between Catch22’s Child Exploitation service in Stoke, and an alternative provision school in Cannock enabled a bespoke NCS programme in the West Midlands. This was a huge success and was thoroughly enjoyed by the 17 young people who took part; a great example of Catch22 inclusive practice.
The programme involved initial team building activities, including mountain biking and rock climbing, before young people had to complete 30 hours of social action in their communities.
Supporting local communities
Participants in Bath partnered with Ivy Bank care home to cheer up the residents during these lonely times. At a time when residents cannot see their family and friends, the NCS team wrote letters to each resident talking about shared interests and the challenges they have all felt during 2020.
The group also created a mural for the care home involving lots of different landmarks around the world, reminding residents of the outside world and of past experiences.
Digital delivery
Newcastle Sixth Form College wanted to offer the NCS experience to all its first-year students, and our teams delivered with a combination of face-to-face and virtual delivery.
As national restrictions changed, the Sixth Form class requested that the whole programme go digital. With over 700 young people to engage with, this was a new kind of challenge but the team went above and beyond; as part of their social action planning, participants had meetings with local entrepreneurs and their local authorities and covered a range of topics important to young people, including:
- delivering education on online harms and keeping safe,
- protecting mental and physical wellbeing,
- calling for trees to be planted in local parts,
- environmental protection for bats and hedgehogs.
Many of this year’s NCS participants will be continuing their social action projects for the foreseeable future.
