Carlisle Support Services is proud to support the EY Foundation, an independent charity that helps young people from low-income backgrounds access paid work experiences, employability skills training, and career guidance.
As young people from low-income backgrounds are three times more likely to be unemployed by the age of 27, the EY Foundation provides these individuals with opportunities to gain employability skills, work experience, and mentorship through the Secure Futures programme. This year, Secure Futures delivered 66 programmes across England and Scotland, supporting nearly 3,000 individuals in accessing opportunities and training that may have previously been unavailable to them due to financial disadvantages.
For three days this summer, our Events Contract Manager for the Southbank Centre, Ruth Ripley, took on the responsibility of hosting two interns from the programme, providing them with training on crowd science, event security management techniques, and CCTV control room observations.
At the end of the programme, the interns presented what they had learned throughout the experience to a panel, including Ruth, impressing everyone with the depth of knowledge they gained over those three days. Both started with limited knowledge of the industry and event security and finished determined to earn their SIA licenses at 18 to join the industry.
Moving forward, Head of Operations Yameen Choudhry and Contract Manager Taiyib Henry will mentor the interns over the next six months, providing key security experience across sectors such as Healthcare, Events, Higher Education, and Government.
By supporting the EY Foundation, established businesses can help nurture young talent from diverse backgrounds, providing fresh perspectives and enhancing business diversity. Carlisle Support Services is excited to see where this partnership will lead as more young adults are provided with opportunities they might otherwise miss.
Ruth Ripley commented: “For us as an employer, the benefits of being part of this programme are clear. Acting as role models and mentors for these young people has hopefully allowed us to meet some of our ESG goals, and we’ve already seen how this experience not only enhances students’ potential but also strengthens our commitment to social impact. Our participation in these initiatives goes beyond mentorship – it’s about empowering future leaders and expanding the horizons of what security roles can offer. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey, and I look forward to continuing this partnership with EY in the years to come.”
