Bury Care Academy's Young People's Project: Graduation Day Recap

Bury Care Academy's Young People's Project: Students Complete Care Certificate Training

Published 24th March

What Happened on the Final Day of Bury Care Academy's Young People's Project?

Today marks the final day of Bury Care Academy's Young People's Project, and it is one of the proudest moments we have experienced since opening our doors in mid-2025.

A group of young people from across Bury came to us four weeks ago, many of them uncertain about their futures and unsure of what a career in adult social care could look like for them. Today, they leave with nationally recognised certifications, real placement experience, and, for several of them, job offers already in hand.

But if we are being honest, the certificates and the job offers, as brilliant as they are, are not what has moved us most. It is the transformation we have witnessed in these young people. The shift in confidence. The way they carry themselves now. The way they talk about care, not as something they stumbled into, but as something they want to build a future in. That is what this programme was built to create, and that is exactly what we have seen.

What Did the Young People's Project Involve?

The Young People's Project is a four-week intensive programme designed specifically for young people across Bury who are considering a career in adult social care. Unlike traditional classroom-only training, the programme combines certified learning with real workplace experience, giving participants the knowledge, the confidence, and the connections they need to step into the sector with their eyes open.

Across the four weeks, participants completed certified training in safeguarding, health and safety, and infection control. They shadowed at local care providers, getting a genuine feel for what day-to-day life in care looks like. They met and interviewed with employers from across the borough. And they heard from an exceptional lineup of guest speakers and industry professionals who gave their time generously to inspire and inform.

None of it was theoretical. Every session, every visit, every conversation was designed to connect these young people to the reality of the sector, and to show them that they belong in it.

What has been your biggest achievement on the course?

My biggest achievement has been becoming more confident. This programme has really helped me a lot with my confidence, speaking to new people, and making friends. It's helped me so much to the point where I actually have a job now at Abbeywood. I'm so greatful for all the support I received throughout.
— Yugi, Care Assistant at Abbeywood Care Home

Session highlights

Check out all the highlights from the graduation day of the programme...

student receives certificate at young people

Congratulations to our students!

Medium shot of a student on the young people

'I've learnt more from this programme in 4 weeks than I did in 2 years of college'

Our very own workforce development officer Megan Ashbrook recapping the programme

Bury Care Academy manager is pictured smiling and laughing with one of the students who is smiling looking forward

Lots of laughs during the morning recap session

Two members of the Bury Care Academy team pictured smiling as they give a certificate over to one of the participants on the course

Congratulations to Yugi for securing her job at Abbeywood Care home!

'This course has helped me realise what I want to do in my future'

What Results Has the Programme Delivered?

The results from this first cohort speak for themselves. Several participants have already secured job offers with care providers across the borough, with more conversations ongoing. Every participant leaves today with certified training under their belt, certificates that prove it and a CV that reflects four weeks of genuine sector experience.

But we want to say something about the results that do not show up in a spreadsheet. The young people who arrived on day one, barely making eye contact, who on the final day stood up in front of the group and spoke with complete confidence about their shadowing day, their job interview, and their real-life sector experience. The participants who have been on the job hunt for 2+ years and have found work after 4 weeks on this programme...

Those are the results that tell you a programme is working.

What Does This Mean for Bury's Care Sector?

Adult social care in Bury, as in every part of the country, faces a workforce challenge that is only going to grow. An ageing population. Increasing demand. A sector that has historically struggled to attract young people at the start of their careers.

The Young People's Project exists to change that. Not by making grand promises, but by doing something simple and powerful, taking young people seriously, giving them real experience, and showing them that a career in care is one of the most meaningful things they could choose to do with their working lives.

This first cohort has proven that the model works. And that gives us enormous confidence about what comes next.

A Word to This Cohort

To every young person who took part in the Young People's Project, thank you.

Thank you for taking a chance on a programme that was brand new. Thank you for showing up, every day, even when it felt uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Thank you for being open, to learning, to feedback, to the people you met, and to the possibility that this could be the start of something real for you.

You did not just complete a programme. You helped us prove that this is worth doing. And every future cohort that comes through this door will benefit from the fact that you went first.

We are so incredibly proud of all of you. This is just the beginning.

A massive thank you to our partners on this programme...

Persona

Art of Brilliance

Bury Council

Bury Hospice

Partnership Training

Total Communication CIC

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Young People's Project?

The Young People's Project is a free four-week programme run by Bury Care Academy for young people across Bury who are interested in exploring a career in adult social care. The programme combines certified training, workplace placements, employer engagement, and guest speaker sessions to give participants a genuine and rounded introduction to the sector.

Who is the Young People's Project designed for?

The programme is open to young people across Bury who are considering a career in adult social care but may not know where to start. No prior experience in the sector is required, just an open mind and a willingness to give it a go.

What qualifications do participants receive?

Participants complete certified training in safeguarding, health and safety, and infection control as part of the programme. These recognised modules that are part of the care certificate are directly relevant to working in the adult social care sector.

Do participants get real work experience as part of the programme?

Yes. Shadowing at local care providers is built into the programme. Participants spend time in real care settings, giving them a genuine understanding of what day-to-day working life in the sector looks like before they apply for roles.

Have participants from this cohort secured jobs?

Yes. Several participants from this first cohort have already secured job offers with care providers across Bury, with more conversations ongoing. The programme includes employer engagement and interviews as part of its delivery, creating a direct pathway from training into employment.

When will the next Young People's Project take place?

We are planning future cohorts of the Young People's Project. If you are interested in taking part, or know a young person who would benefit, please get in touch with Bury Care Academy via our contact page and we will add you to our interest list.

How can care providers get involved in the Young People's Project?

We are always looking for care providers who are willing to offer placement opportunities or contribute as guest speakers. If you would like to support future cohorts, please reach out to us directly. Your involvement makes an enormous difference to the experience we can offer young people.

What other programmes does Bury Care Academy run?

Alongside the Young People's Project, Bury Care Academy runs the LEAD Programme, a five-week leadership development programme for managers and supervisors working in the care sector, as well as a range of other workforce development initiatives. Visit our website to find out more about everything we offer.