Steps to Work provides an incredible opportunity for young people in Liverpool with learning difficulties or other barriers to employment, to develop and achieve their goals.

The Steps to Work programme reaches out to young adults aged 18-25 with learning difficulties or other barriers to employment through a training hub in the new Strawberry Field centre. Thanks to partnerships with local education providers including The City of Liverpool College and the investment of local businesses and organisations, Steps to Work can offer a 12-18 month programme that combines education and work placements to ensure trainees are truly work ready.

Steps to Work consists of an eight week work readiness course, followed by three different three month work placements. These placements include two days per week of vocational training and two days per week in a work environment to move young people into employment or meaningful volunteering. The first cohort of eight trainees joined the programme on 15th October 2018 to begin their journey into work.

The trainees are based at our Strawberry Field training hub in the centre of the historic grounds where John Lennon played as a child. The structured programme comprises classroom-based life skills learning, specialised sector training and work experience, giving trainees the opportunity to develop their employability and prepare themselve to look for paid employment.

At the end of the Steps to Work programme, each young person will have developed their confidence, independence and other life skills as well as having the vocational experience to empower them into work.