Rosie Mai Iredale guest-hosts Future Voices (Inclusive Change and Youth Guarantee) and introduces Rebecca (19) and Wilbur (20) from the Youth Guarantee Program in South Gloucestershire, who share experiences of autism, anxiety, panic attacks, bullying, and moving schools before finding supportive alternative education at Pathways. Rebecca describes high masking, panic attacks, and later gaining confidence through performing arts, then struggling in retail work due to the social demands and customer conflict; she explores childcare through local council courses and flexible mentoring. Wilbur describes traumatic schooling, using Pathways’ small, supportive environment to rebuild confidence, then completing a Level 2 in animal care and struggling through around 100 job applications before joining Youth Guarantee, receiving one-to-one mentor support (including travel planning and free bus travel), completing a security placement, earning licensing/qualification, winning a program award, and gaining paid employment. Both recommend Youth Guarantee as flexible, tailored support that helps young people find work paths that fit.
