Think Forward
Coaching young people to achieve their full potential in West London
ThinkForward delivers unique, personalised coaching programmes for young people at a key stage in their lives, enabling them to overcome the challenges they face and make a successful transition into work. Every young person takes part in workplace activities to develop their life goals and readiness for work. They raise the voices of their young people and support employers to provide fair access to opportunities.
For many young people growing up in London's under-served communities, opportunities can feel far out of reach. Young Black men for instance face some of the highest unemployment rates in London – 33% compared to 15% for young white men.
Sourced by Greater London Authority, 2020
The Swarovski Foundation is proud to have supported the scaling phase of the Future Leaders programme in West London since 2024.
Future Leaders is a coaching programme designed to support Black boys and Black and Asian girls at risk of school exclusion into positive post-16 destinations, across a two-year period. Those young people face challenges, often lacking networks, social capital and the soft skills needed to progress into work, and experiencing structural racism.
Through the Future Leaders programme, they gain access to a unique one-to-one coaching experience with professional trusted adults, who support them to set goals, overcome barriers and explore their strengths and aspirations. They also get the opportunity to develop their networks, as well as to engage with businesses and attend ‘ready for work’ events to develop their confidence and knowledge of different industries, while parent and carer engagement ensures they are supported in their journey both at home and in school.
In addition to this support, the Swarovski Foundation has organised two Insight Days at the Swarovski London office to date, welcoming young people from various ThinkForward programmes for activities including speed-networking and creative workshops around sustainability themes. They were joined by volunteers from the Swarovski Foundation, Swarovski and Tyrolit who came together to share valuable insights into their careers and what it means to work for a global group. Three young people taking part in ThinkForward programmes have been offered short-term positions in Swarovski stores to gain some professional experience and learn about the world of retail.
Images courtesy of ThinkForward
In the 2024-25 academic year,
288
young people took part in the Future Leaders programme, 86% of which qualified for Free School Meals, 33% spoke English as an additional language and 50% had a Special Education Need or Disability.
Think Forward targets young people who are at high risk of disengaging from education due to complex and multiple disadvantages. Coaches build trusting relationships with young people and provide guidance and advice across every area of their lives, so they can improve their behaviour, attainment, and attendance.
The organisation also connects young people with real-world work opportunities, broadening their aspirations and equipping them with essential skills to succeed in the labour market.
All ThinkForward’s programmes promote collaboration with employers, schools and high-quality service providers, ensuring tailored and impactful support for the most vulnerable young people.
Being involved in ThinkForward has given me hope for the future generations. Watching how hard the kids worked, and the clever ideas they came up with was inspiring.
Insight Day Volunteer
To learn more visit ThinkForward
