Justice Prince - Overcoming barriers to employment

I badly suffered with anxiety and didn't leave my house for almost a decade from around being eight years old.

I suffered bullying in school from teachers which caused panic attacks whenever I was in a classroom. Because of this, every time I tried getting back into education, I failed. That lack of qualifications has really hindered my ability to find work. It also gave me anxiety around authority figures which doesn't help in interview situations.

You don't realise how important qualifications really are until you're looking for work, no matter how many applications you give out. Justice Prince is the only place that would actually give me a chance.

My mum contacted Justice Prince which led to both of us going to the community garden. From there I became more involved with the organisation. I started volunteering for a few hours a week and as I worked with the team my confidence grew and that led to more opportunities. I was introduced to the Barriers to Employment programme by another young person. I now volunteer at Justice Prince, I sit on the advisory board and I work on a number of projects involving young people in Longbenton.

One of the first things I did was help design a peer research survey for young people about the obstacles in the way to getting a job or an apprenticeship. I had to canvas and survey other young people in the area for our research. I was the lead engagement peer researcher.

It was my first job and it was a struggle to begin with, but it helped me to develop as a person. It developed my confidence 100%, it developed my self-esteem 100%. My health and my communications skills too, without a doubt.

At first I said ‘no, I really can’t go out and stop people on the street and talk to them.’ [Justice Prince Director] Julie always said ‘yes you can.’ Eventually I did do it and my confidence grew. My anxiety reduced because I was coming out of the house and taking on all these responsibilities.

I got deeper into the project, more involved in leading its development until we actually had the final Barriers to Employment report which we presented at Parliament to MPs last year. I was so anxious and nervous to be in a room with all these MPs and Baronesses sitting in front of me. But as the day went on I became more comfortable and confident until I was talking with MPs about the report and the problems facing young people in Longbenton.

I also took the lead in organising a job fair for young people. I contacted 16 local employers and people at the local authority to invite them to the fair and made a presentation for the day to show them our work.

Barriers to Employment has had a huge benefit to my mental health. Meeting new people and getting out of the house was so important. It gave me a purpose and somewhere to go. I feel safe going outside now which is not something I could say in the past. It made me become more sociable too. I went from knowing no one to having friends.

Now I feel prepared and ready to get out there and apply for jobs. It’s made such a difference to me.

About the project

The Barriers to Employment programme in Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne is led by Justice Prince who have been supported by People’s Health Trust for 10 years through Local Conversations and currently through Partnerships for Health. The Partnerships for Health grant supports strategic partnership work with the goal of increasing influence and improving health outcomes
for local people who experience the greatest health inequalities.