Journey First is a holistic employment support service in Cheshire and Warrington. Funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Journey First programme provides intensive 1-2-1 support for young people and adults across Cheshire and Warrington.

Our dedicated team can help participants to identify their skills and reach their goals, whether that be support with job searches and employment or access to further education or training.

Journey First will run until summer 2023, and before then we aim to help as many residents of Warrington to achieve their dreams.

How does it work?

Journey First offers support through Job Coaches within local authority teams across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington.

The teams assess each participant's needs and focus on a range of solutions to address any problems that prevent progression into training and employment.

Who is eligible for support?

Journey First supports young people aged 16–24, including cared for children and care leavers, who are not in a job or in any form of training or education, as well as young people with special educational needs.

The project also supports adults aged 18+ who have a range of barriers to employment such as disability, or complex needs including mental health conditions or homelessness.

Referral to the programme

Participants can be identified primarily through support teams and can be referred directly via a number of referral partners. Partners can make direct referrals into each Local Authority project delivery team and individuals can also refer directly via the delivery team.