How Genuine Futures, Boss Your Future and We Shine Any Car are helping young people in Bolton rebuild confidence, learn skills and discover purpose.

Rejected by Four Colleges. Staying in Bed All Day. Now They Believe They Can Achieve Anything.

“Before the programme, I was staying in bed all day.”

Those simple words from Luis capture the reality facing thousands of young people across the UK.

For many, life after school doesn’t lead to college, employment or apprenticeships. Instead, it can mean isolation, anxiety, rejection and feeling forgotten.

For Jay, the experience was different but equally painful.

He applied to four colleges.

He was rejected by all four.

At one point, he was even told he would never work.

Today, both young men are part of a growing movement of young people proving that labels don’t define futures.

They are helping to shape We Shine Any Car, a youth-led enterprise created by Genuine Futures CIC, and are gaining practical skills, confidence and purpose through our flagship Boss Your Future programme.

And perhaps most importantly, Luis now says:

“We can achieve anything now.”

A Growing Crisis Facing Young People

Across the UK, more than one million young people aged 16–24 are currently not in education, employment or training.

Behind every statistic is a person.

A young person who has stopped believing in themselves.

Someone who has experienced exclusion.

Someone who has become disconnected from friends.

Someone who has lost hope.

Some young people spend months inside their bedrooms.

Others become anxious about leaving the house.

Some have never experienced a workplace.

Others have repeatedly heard adults tell them what they cannot do.

At Genuine Futures, we know these experiences well because many of us have lived them ourselves.

Our organisation was founded on the belief that young people do not need fixing.

They need opportunities.

They need trusted adults.

They need practical experiences.

They need people prepared to stand beside them.

It Starts With Listening

At Genuine Futures, one phrase runs through everything we do.

It Starts With Listening.

We don’t begin by asking young people what qualifications they have.

We don’t begin by asking what they’ve failed at.

Instead, we ask simple questions.

“What interests you?”

“What would you like to try?”

“What would make getting out of bed worthwhile tomorrow?”

Those conversations matter.

Because progress isn’t always measured by certificates.

Sometimes progress means:

Getting up before lunchtime

Travelling independently

Meeting new people

Trying something unfamiliar

Speaking on camera

Smiling in a photograph

Turning up consistently

Believing you belong somewhere

Boss Your Future

Boss Your Future was designed to support young people aged 15–24 who are:

• NEET

• Care experienced

• Homeless

• At risk of exclusion

• Socially isolated

• Struggling with confidence

• Unsure about their next steps

The programme combines practical experiences with enterprise, employability and youth voice.

Young people take part in:

• Workplace visits

• Inspirational talks

• Community projects

• Enterprise activities

• Team challenges

• Creative sessions

• Outdoor activities

• Youth-led campaigns

For some participants, Boss Your Future provides the first positive routine they’ve experienced in years.

For others, it offers something they have never had before.

A team that believes in them.

From Bucket and Sponge to Vehicle Repairs

One of the biggest successes to emerge from Boss Your Future has been the development of We Shine Any Car.

What started as a simple idea has grown into a youth-led social enterprise where young people learn practical automotive skills while supporting the local community.

Jay and Luis are among the group of young people who helped shape and launch the enterprise.

Initially, they learned how to wash vehicles.

Bucket.

Sponge.

Shampoo.

Drying towels.

Simple tasks.

But these activities offered far more than clean cars.

Young people were developing:

• Communication skills

• Timekeeping

• Customer service

• Responsibility

• Teamwork

• Pride

• Attention to detail

• Confidence

• Resilience

As their confidence increased, so did their ambitions.

The Three-Step Vehicle Maintenance Journey

Luis describes his journey as a simple three-step process.

Step One – Car Wash

Learning how to present a vehicle professionally.

Understanding customer expectations.

Taking pride in appearance.

Working alongside teammates.

Building trust.

Step Two – Valeting

Vacuuming.

Interior cleaning.

Polishing surfaces.

Detailing.

Improving presentation.

Learning professional standards.

Young people also began interacting directly with customers, something many previously found intimidating.

Step Three – Light Vehicle Repairs

Learning basic vehicle maintenance.

Oil changes.

Vehicle checks.

Using tools safely.

Understanding components.

And now Luis is progressing even further.

He’s learning how to safely remove vehicle parts in the yard.

Each task builds confidence.

Each achievement challenges previous assumptions.

Each step demonstrates progress.

Jay’s Story

Jay’s story highlights how easily young people can be written off.

Four colleges rejected him.

He was told he would never work.

For many young people, hearing those words repeatedly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Eventually they stop applying.

Stop asking.

Stop trying.

Stop believing.

At Genuine Futures, we saw something different.

Potential.

Humour.

Determination.

A young man who simply needed an opportunity.

Today, Jay is gaining practical experience every week.

Supporting activities.

Learning alongside peers.

Developing transferable skills.

And proving that predictions about someone’s future can be spectacularly wrong.

Luis’ Story

Luis openly admits that before joining Genuine Futures, he spent most days staying in bed.

No structure.

No motivation.

No purpose.

No reason to leave the house.

Today things look very different.

Luis attends regularly.

Contributes ideas.

Speaks confidently on video.

Represents Youth Voice.

Supports community events.

Learns mechanical skills.

Visits workplaces.

Takes part in meetings.

Recently he visited Bolton Wanderers Football Club and reflected on standing pitch-side.

When asked how it felt, he replied:

“It made me feel many things. The huge sense of scale of the stadium.”

Moments like that matter.

They help young people imagine futures that once felt impossible.

And now Luis proudly says:

“We can achieve anything now.”

Youth Voice Matters

At Genuine Futures, Youth Voice isn’t a consultation exercise.

It isn’t symbolic.

It means standing side by side.

Listening.

Learning together.

Creating together.

Building opportunities together.

Young people influence:

• Projects

• Campaigns

• Events

• Social enterprises

• Marketing

• Community activities

• Future plans

Their ideas shape our direction.

Their experiences improve our delivery.

Their ambitions inspire others.

Standing Side by Side

Reflecting on Jay and Luis’ journeys, Sam Smith, Co-Director of Genuine Futures, said:

“Too many young people are judged by what they haven’t achieved instead of being recognised for what they could become. Jay was told he would never work and Luis was spending his days in bed with no routine or purpose. Today they’re learning practical skills, helping shape a social enterprise, and inspiring others. We don’t see problems to fix; we see potential waiting to be unlocked.”

Sam added:

“For me, this work is personal. I know what it feels like to be written off. Genuine Futures was built to be the organisation I wish had existed when I was growing up. We stand beside young people, not in front of them, and help them discover that they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.”

Mike Alleyne, Co-Director of Genuine Futures, believes relationships are the foundation for change.

“People often look for quick fixes, but lasting change comes from relationships, consistency and trust. Sometimes the biggest achievement for a young person is simply getting out of bed, turning up and taking part. From there, confidence grows, skills develop and aspirations begin to change.”

Mike continued:

“Watching Jay and Luis progress from washing cars to carrying out light vehicle repairs and removing parts in the yard has been incredible. Hearing Luis say, ‘We can achieve anything now,’ tells us everything we need to know. When young people are listened to, given responsibility and supported to lead, amazing things happen.”

Why Young People Should Join Genuine Futures

By joining Genuine Futures, young people can:

Gain practical experience

Learn automotive skills

Build confidence and self-belief

Meet new people and make friends

Explore careers and self-employment

Take part in community projects

Have their voice heard

Help shape future opportunities

Looking Ahead

Jay and Luis are not exceptions.

They are examples of what becomes possible when opportunities replace assumptions.

When practical experiences replace paperwork.

When relationships replace labels.

When young people are trusted to lead.

As Luis now says:

“We can achieve anything now.”

And perhaps that’s the most important lesson of all.

Because once a young person starts believing in themselves, the future begins to look very different indeed.

Get Involved

Whether you’re a young person looking for a fresh start, a parent seeking support, a volunteer willing to share your skills, or a business wanting to invest in the next generation, we’d love to hear from you.

01204 954 200
www.genuinefutures.co.uk