Why?
Sheffield has one of the lowest rates of care-experienced young people aged 17-25 engaged in work or education in Britain. Speak Up Now, Sheffield’s care leaver forum, and the Voice and Influence Team in Sheffield set out to change this by helping employers better understand both the barriers and strengths of hiring care-experienced people.
What?
Since the Voice and Influence team championed care-experienced status as a protected characteristic in Sheffield, local businesses have become increasingly committed to helping care-experienced individuals gain employment. Several businesses generously contributed funding to help the Voice and Influence team to develop a tailored training package, called the ‘You’re Hired Toolkit’.
This includes helping potential employers to understand both the challenges and the clear benefits of hiring care-experienced young people. It also encourages the creation of jobs and the implementation of fairer recruitment processes, levelling the playing field and ultimately increasing the number of care-experienced individuals in sustained employment across the city.
The project was deeply informed by thorough research and, importantly, by the voices of care-experienced young people from Speak Up Now. Members of the care-experienced community shared their stories, insights, and ideas, ensuring the initiative is truly youth-led and addresses the barriers that have historically hindered young people from thriving in the workplace.
What difference did it make?
The launch of the toolkit has sparked a powerful movement within the city, encouraging businesses to adopt a more accepting and thoughtful approach to hiring care-experienced young people. This initiative has progressed alongside the recognition of ‘care-experience’ as a protected characteristic within the city.
In addition to the training program, Sheffield have created meaningful opportunities for young people to gain real workplace experience. In June 2025, they hosted Sheffield’s first Civil Service Open Day, where young people had the chance to spend a day at the Sheffield Civil Service HQ, before applying for apprenticeships. Businesses inspired by the toolkit, such as one architecture studio, have committed to offering ring-fenced job opportunities, specifically for care-experienced individuals.
This case study was shortlisted for the Voice Award at the A National Voice Awards 2025, and came in 3rd place.