WHAT WE DO
FST offers different services to support people to build skills, confidence and experience that will help them move towards employment.
OUR IMPACT
APRIL 2024 - MARCH 2025
We believe that everyone, no matter the disadvantages they have faced, has the potential to learn new skills and make a valuable contribution.
We work alongside people who are overcoming different barriers to work including mental health issues, experience of the criminal justice system, long term unemployment and learning difficulties.
Our accessible training courses use the latest technologies including Virtual Reality, offering a different way of learning and gaining qualifications. We offer work experience placements in our social enterprise businesses where people can build skills and confidence, and support to move into paid work when they feel ready.
We work with people at our community training centre in London, as well as delivering services in probation hubs and secure mental health units in London and the North West of England.
TRAINING
We offer high quality, accessible training to help people gain skills relevant to employment.
From vehicle mechanics, to working in a commercial kitchen, to studying for a driving theory test, our courses prepare people for work. We specialise in using Virtual Reality to help people learn in innovative and accessible ways.
> Find out more about our courses.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Our work placements offer a welcoming, supportive environment for people to take a first step into employment.
These voluntary placements see individuals working alongside our experienced team to build up technical skills and confidence, as well as gain an understanding of the expectations of a professional workplace.
> Find out more about our work placements.
SUPPORT
Alongside training and work experience, our team offer support to prepare for work, including developing a CV and help with job applications. We also work with local and national companies to create opportunities for work experience, apprenticeships and employment outside FST.
We work with people at our community training centre in London, as well as delivering services in probation hubs and secure mental health units in London and the North West of England.
WHO WE WORK WITH
FST supports disadvantaged adults who have barriers to learning and employment, including mental health issues. We recognise that people’s journeys are complex and people don’t always fit neatly into boxes.
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
Across our projects, we receive referrals from community and specialist mental health services, and work with people with a range of mental health conditions. In our North West UK projects, FST works with people with severe enduring mental health needs who currently reside in secure forensic mental health facilities.
FST provides non clinical intervention services, supporting its workforce to gain real world employment experience as they move along their recovery pathway.
LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT
We know that the longer someone is out of work, the harder it
can become to get into or back into work. People may have been unemployed
because of physical or mental health conditions, a lack of qualifications, or
other barriers.
We offer a chance to take that step towards work. 87% of people doing
work experience placements are FST last year had been unemployed for over five
years and 45% had never worked. For
trainees joining short courses, 61.5% were unemployed for over five and 34% had
never worked.
EXPERIENCE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Having a criminal record can pose a significant barrier to employment and we believe everyone deserves a second chance. We deliver training for people attending probation hubs, including specialist hubs supporting young people.
We also accept applications for work placements from people with convictions who want to take their first step back into employment. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis and are carefully risk assessed.