HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE FIND SUSTAINABLE WORK
The charity, Circle Community, runs our successful #BackYourFuture programme, while our social enterprise, Circle Collective, runs three streetwear stores that serve as a training ground for our young people.
Whether you can help us through work experience, mentoring, grants or spare a few hours as a volunteer, we’d love to hear from you.
Circle Collective is a charity and social enterprise that was founded in 2011 to support unemployed young people (16-30) to gain the skills, experience and confidence to find sustainable employment and financial independence. We provide essential work experience opportunities in our streetwear / vintage retail stores whilst the charity focuses on a holistic, bespoke approach to build confidence and reduce anxiety and deliver employability skills.
We create over one million pounds worth of social value every year and have valuable partnerships with a wide range of corporate and statutory stakeholders.
Our Mission
We believe that every young person who wants to work should be have access to a permanent job. Circle Collective’s mission is to help socio and economically disadvantaged young people to develop the skills, relationships and resilience to secure and sustain life-changing employment.
Why It Matters
Unemployment rates remain disproportionately high for young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds and racially minoritised groups. This “employment gap” has widened in the past few years, with a growing young population that lack career advice or access to work experience, perpetuating the struggle to find employment. Youth unemployment in London for individuals aged 16–24 consistently remains significantly higher than the national average, according to the ongoing quarterly figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
“I just wanted someone to give me a chance. Circle showed me that taking small steps will lead to a better career. I love working and earning my own money. I can see a future now.”
Ranveer, Waiter at Arancini Brothers
“I have attended other employability Programmes, but Circle is different as the staff are friendly and care. I gained new skills and as a bonus made new friends along the way.”
Faiza, aged 26, who now is a Teaching Assistant
"If I hadn’t joined Circle’s employment programme, I would very likely still be looking for work today, possibly in the wrong places and fields, and still unsure of how to present myself to employers.”
Oliver, aged 21, who is now a Sainsbury’s Trading Assistant
Whether you can help us with admin, social media, mentoring young people, grants or spare a few hours fundraising or volunteering in another way, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Story
Circle Collective started as a nonprofit clothing shop in Westminster that aimed to make sportswear affordable and accessible for those from a lower income background.
To run the store, founder Turly Humphreys visited a local Job Centre Plus to source unemployed young adults as part-time employees. She was struck by the lack of employment resources available and overwhelmed by the number of job applications she received. She started to recognise the vicious circle that is youth unemployment – without evidence of skills or work experience or access to a network, young people can’t get hired. And, without a job, they can never develop skills or experience.
In those early years, Circle Collective employed a small number of young people in the shop, full of unrealised potential, who just needed training and support. Turly wanted to provide this same training and experience on a larger scale to young people, supporting them to secure fulfilling, permanent employment opportunities.
Since then, we have continued to adapt to changing needs: launching an e-commerce platform, introducing mental health and wellbeing workshops, and creating ambassador and other programmes for young people to get involved and have a voice in their communities. .
Today, we are a team of 16 staff across the charity and social enterprise supporting 360 young people per year across 3 locations.
Our Goals & Future Vision
We will expand our support by supporting young people to use AI tools to help access employment opportunities, while further developing strong employer partnerships which provide ringfenced entry level job opportunities for young people.
