Career Safari
Young people in Manchester face some of the highest rates of unemployment, low educational outcomes, and NEET status in the UK.
Many grow up with limited awareness of professional careers or how to access them — especially those from low-income or racially minoritised backgrounds.
With few relatable role models and little exposure to diverse industries, young people often disengage from education and struggle to connect learning with real-world opportunities.
This results in a cycle of low aspiration and underachievement.
Career Safari was developed to break this cycle — helping young people explore careers, build confidence, and connect their goals to tangible opportunities.
What the programme does
Career Safari is an immersive, hands-on programme that introduces young people to the wide range of careers available to them — especially those they may never have considered or thought possible.
Delivered through schools and community settings, the programme offers:
Workshops
Interactive employer-led workshops across sectors including law, media, construction, healthcare, and tech
Career Mapping
Sessions that help participants explore their interests, skills, and goals
Case Studies
Real world case studies and role model interactions that show how people from similar backgrounds have succeeded
Soft Skills Development
… in communication, teamwork, confidence and presentation
Creative Challenges
…and practical activities which encourage problem-solving and self-reflection
Culture & Community
Recognising the lived experiences of participants and connecting career planning to identity and place
The change we hope to see
Career Safari supports progress across the five pillars of our Holistic Development Model:
Building Skills
Develops core communication, teamwork, and planning skills.
Personal Growth
Boosts confidence and ambition by exploring identity and possibility.
Civic Responsibility
Encourages reflection on how individuals can contribute to their communities.
Social Mobility
Opens access to sectors young people may not have considered or believed were for them.
Wellbeing Support
Provides a safe, supported space for young people to explore their potential with trusted adults.