10 Years, over 2000 Stories

Celebrating 10 incredible years

We’re extremely proud to be celebrating our ten-year anniversary.  Over the past decade Drive Forward has transformed the lives of over 2000 young care leavers with the help of our corporate partners. Be part of our success story. Enhance your company’s reputationboost staff morale and really make a difference to vulnerable people by partnering with us – it could be the best business decision you make today. 

0
Young People
0
Jobs
0
Companies
0
Volunteers
I had a great manager during my work placement with Squire Patton Boggs. They made sure every minute spent with the team I was busy learning something. It was amazing to find out so much about the legal industry.
Farhia
Care Leaver

What our corporate partners do

It varies, but a partnership typically involves mentoring our young people, offering work experience placements and giving career advice. Many partners get involved in fun volunteering and fundraising opportunities which are great for boosting team morale. Your dedicated account manager will support you every step of the way, and you’ll receive exclusive training on how to work with vulnerable young people.

Why they do it?

Diversify your workforce

Our young people come from a wide variety of backgrounds and will bring a fresh perspective to your organisation

Boost staff morale

Your teams will learn new skills, broaden their horizons and help to transform a young person’s life

Gain powerful publicity

We’ll promote you on social media, plus your logo will appear on our website and annual report. Working with us will also make you more eligible for charitable awards which enhance your company’s reputation

Access hidden potential

Enrich your business with new skills and experiences from a marginalised group hungry to learn

Attract customers

Enhance your brand image by demonstrating your organisation’s commitment to the community

This scheme is very close to my heart... CNWL has played a significant part in my journey and I want others to have the same opportunities. I know that care leavers have so much to offer the NHS... and we can offer them the best possible start in their working life and lots of experience.”
Meera Mistry
CNWL - NHS Foundation Trust

Reflecting on a decade of transforming lives

Martha Wansbrough is the CEO of Drive Forward Foundation

I founded Drive Forward ten years ago with a clear mission: to help young care leavers with no professional or social networks to launch their career. A decade later, I’m proud to say we’ve achieved exactly that. Our corporate partners have been instrumental in our success, providing young people with invaluable career advice and opportunities, fostering a sense of ambition and harnessing their remarkable talents.  Young people who have been in care often tell us that decisions were made about them, not with them. Putting them in the driving seat is at the heart of Drive Forward, and helping them launch their careers is an important first step to true independence I can’t wait to see what we achieve together over the next ten years!

Martha Wansbrough
Founder of Drive Forward Foundation

Transform your business. Transform lives.

"Working alongside Drive Forward Foundation this year has been inspiring, invigorating and hugely energising. The passion that Lucy and team have in supporting members is simply awesome. Passion that became positively contagious with both me, from my first meeting, right through my team at Lloyds Banking Group." - Alan Cripps

The Power of 10

Small things make a BIG difference

We’re so excited to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary! To mark this amazing milestone we want to share our POWER OF 10

Pioneering a relationship-based approach
Our Employment Consultants recognise and champion the unique skills, experiences, and aspirations of each young person that walks through our doors
Building strong partnerships with leading businesses
Over the past decade, we worked with over 100 companies enabling our young people to gain hands-on experience via work placements, training, and employment opportunities
Driving innovation in times of crisis
Together with our partners we've found creative solutions to enable young people to further their personal and professional development throughout the crisis
The Civil Service Care Leaver Scheme
In 2016, the Department for Education hosted an internship for one of our young people. In 2020, 17 government departments offered some 500 positions to care leavers across the UK
A bespoke counselling service
Based on our experience with young people having no or only limited access to statutory services, Drive Forward introduced an advocacy and counselling service in late 2019 so that care-experienced young people can take control over their lives, overcome the challenges they face and move towards a meaningful career and ultimately independence
Enabling positive futures through early intervention
Building key skills, raising aspirations, and fostering self-belief, our two Early Intervention programmes enable care-experienced young people aged 13+ identify and pursue their life goals
Mentoring
Receiving specialist training and ongoing support, our corporate mentors are able to offer young people a positive experience of building supportive relationships
Challenging recruitment paradigms
Our corporate partners share Drive Forward's vision of more equal opportunities, more diverse work forces, and more inclusive workplaces. Our team support them every step of the way providing expert training and guidance tailored to their specific business needs
Transforming over 2000 lifes
We're super proud of what our young people have achieved over the past 10 years. They've unleashed their potential, progressed into amazing careers, and built fulfilled lives for themselves
Previous slide
Next slide

What's your Power of 10?

We're challenging our partners, our team, our young people, and our supporters to name 10 things in 20 seconds that make a positive impact in their lives, or the lives of those they support. Take the challenge!

Step 1

Decide on you Power of 10. Have a quick look at the videos below for some inspiration!

Step 2

Grab your phone and take a video of yourself sharing your Power of 10. Feel free to introduce yourself and your company, but make sure you get your 10 things into 20 seconds!

Step 3

Share your video on your social media accounts using the hashtags #10in20 #powerof10 and don't forget to tag Drive Forward Foundation!

Become a partner. Make a difference.

Your journey begins here.
Scroll to Top

Subcribe & Stay Connected