Episode 45: Starting Work - Doing things for yourself

Leaving school or college can feel like someone has suddenly taken the scaffolding away. In this episode, Saman talks with Bea from Invictus Wellbeing about the “big leap” from education into work and independence, and how young people can look after their mental health along the way.

They explore:

• Why the loss of structure and routine can feel so unsettling
• Common barriers such as anxiety, low confidence, financial stress and loss of identity
• Practical ways to spot the early signs that you are struggling
• Simple tools for building routine, resilience and confidence
• How employers and communities can create fairer, more supportive pathways into work

Bea shares grounded, realistic strategies like setting one small goal at a time, using mood check ins, and reaching out early for support rather than waiting for crisis point.

Support and further information

• Invictus Wellbeing - West Yorkshire Children and Young Person's Mental Health Charity 
  https://www.invictuswellbeing.com
• Young Minds - mental health support for young people: https://www.youngminds.org.uk
• Mind - information and support for mental health: https://www.mind.org.uk
• The Prince's Trust - opportunities, mentoring and employment support for young people: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk
• Citizens Advice - money, work and housing advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• MoneyHelper - free and impartial money guidance: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk

This project is a part of Wellness Work programme funded by One Community Foundation Kirklees https://one-community.org.uk/ and is being delivered in partnership with TSL Kirklees https://tslkirklees.org.uk/ and Kirklees Council https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/default.aspx.  

Wellness Works Small Grants is part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. Healthy Working Life aims to deliver the region’s work and health plan and its vision for West Yorkshire to have the healthiest residents and workforce in England by 2040.

 

Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes or sign up to the Destination information & opportunities web-app for teens and young adults at www.destination.org.uk where you can find loads of useful life-benefiting content for young people.    

You can also follow up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whatthefridaypod/ or TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefridaypod(@WhatTheFridayPod)

Special thanks to Locala and Kirklees College for supporting this episode, Jimi for editing and Youth Social www.youthsocial.co.uk for pulling everything together.

Finally special thanks for Paul A Jackson for the music.