A shared case study between Coventry City Council’s Trailblazer
- Natasha
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Creating Pathways Together
The opportunity
Coventry City Council’s Trailblazer Programme (CCC Trailblazer) approached RE(YOU)S as part of an initiative supporting young adults who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) to build confidence, develop skills and explore future opportunities.
As conversations developed, CCC Trailblazer and RE(YOU)S recognised an opportunity to integrate volunteering into that journey. Together, we explored how meaningful work experience could provide a supportive environment where young adults could build confidence, develop practical skills and take their next steps.
Rather than volunteering being an activity in its own right, it became part of a wider pathway that encouraged learning through experience, community participation and personal development.
The challenge
Young adults who are not in education, employment or training can face a range of barriers when taking their next steps. For many, the challenge is not ability, but access to opportunities that provide practical experience, confidence and a supportive environment to learn.
Creating those opportunities requires organisations to work together, combining different knowledge, relationships and expertise to reduce barriers and open new pathways.
Our approach
Working together, CCC Trailblazer and RE(YOU)S combined our different roles and expertise to design a volunteering opportunity that could support young adults as they gained meaningful work experience.
Rather than expecting volunteers to arrive with previous experience, the opportunity was designed to provide it. Through ongoing conversations, we considered the challenges young people might face and how the volunteering experience could help build confidence, develop practical skills and create opportunities to learn by doing.
Regular communication between CCC Trailblazer and RE(YOU)S ensured the experience remained supportive, creating an environment where volunteers could contribute, gain real-world experience and become part of the wider community.
What changed
A meaningful volunteering opportunity was created to provide practical work experience in a supportive environment.
Young adults had the opportunity to build confidence through real-world experience and community participation.
Volunteers developed practical skills while making a positive contribution to community activity.
Collaboration between CCC Trailblazer and RE(YOU)S created a more connected pathway into future education, employment and training.
The partnership demonstrated how organisations can work together to reduce barriers and create opportunities.
Impact
For young adults
Gained practical volunteering and work experience.
Built confidence through meaningful participation.
Developed transferable skills in a supportive environment.
Took positive steps towards future education, employment or training.
For the partnership
Strengthened collaboration between CCC Trailblazer and RE(YOU)S.
Combined different expertise to create more joined-up support.
Demonstrated how partnership working can create opportunities that neither organisation could provide alone.
For the community
Increased volunteer capacity to support community activity.
Enabled young adults to contribute their time, ideas and skills.
Strengthened local connections through collaborative working.
Reflections
This collaboration reinforced the value of partnership working.
By combining CCC Trailblazers’ understanding of the young people they support with RE(YOU)S' volunteering opportunities, we were able to create an environment where practical experience, confidence and community participation could grow together.
It also demonstrated that meaningful volunteering is not simply about gaining experience. It is about creating opportunities where people can learn by doing, contribute to their community and begin building pathways towards future education, employment and training.
My experience with Coventry Trailblazers has been highly beneficial and has given me the opportunity to improve in all aspects. Since joining, I have been given the opportunity to develop new skills, build my confidence and overcome new challenges, all while being in a supportive and understanding space.
The opportunity I was given has helped me gain valuable insight to what working is like, gain positive communication skills and have a strong understanding of mutual trust and respect. It has also given me practical
experience, vital for my future career goals.”My Trailblazer outcome has been not only rewarding but also a valuable experience I can carry with me while looking for future education and work.
Looking ahead
The learning from this collaboration continues to shape how Coventry City Council’s Trailblazer Programme and RE(YOU)S work together to create opportunities that reduce barriers, build confidence and support young adults as they move towards future education, employment and training.
Together, we continue to demonstrate that when organisations collaborate around a shared purpose, volunteering can become more than an opportunity to gain experience; it can become part of a wider pathway that connects people, skills and communities.
Interested in getting involved?
If you're a young person interested in finding out more about Coventry City Council's Trailblazer Programme, we'd encourage you to explore the opportunities and support available through the programme.
If you're a business or organisation interested in providing opportunities for young people to gain experience, develop skills and explore what's possible, there may be ways for you to get involved too.
If you're interested in working with RE(YOU)S to create practical opportunities within communities, we'd love to have a conversation.
Get in touch, and we'll help connect you to the right place.
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