Closing the Gap - Empower Care Leavers in London

Dear Friend,

Over the past three months our Closing the Gap Fund has helped 16 young people overcome financial barriers and get closer to achieving their dreams.

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide support when it was needed most - 26 small, well-timed payments covered essentials like rent, travel costs, lunch, or work clothes, so that care-experienced young people could say ‘yes’ to opportunities, turn their ambition into action, and take steps towards meaningful, sustainable careers. That’s £1708.71 invested in young people’s futures.

We’d like to introduce you to two brilliant young people who’ve been supported as they began their Civil Service internships:

Giovanna’s story

When Giovanna joined Drive Forward, she was working part-time as a barista while receiving Universal Credit. Despite holding a BSc degree and having strong aspirations, she had struggled to access professional roles that would allow her to begin building a career.

From the outset, Giovanna approached the programme with determination, yet understandably, she was cautious. Previous opportunities had fallen through at the last minute, affecting her confidence. She quickly built a trusted and collaborative relationship with her Careers Specialist, Najla, working together closely, to balance existing work commitments with her career development.

When the Civil Service Care Leavers Internship opportunity came up, Giovanna knew it was something she wanted to go for – she saw it as a stepping stone towards her long-term ambitions of working in finance and leadership. With support from Najla, Giovanna prepared a compelling application and following a successful interview, was offered an Executive Officer role.

Giovanna was looking forward to her new role but worried about how she’d afford it - moving from benefits into employment meant there would be a period of several weeks before her first pay cheque arrived. But the costs still needed to be covered. Giovanna told us that she was relieved when Najla said, ‘We can help you.’

“I didn’t know how I was going be able to afford my travel to the office or lunches during that first month, so this money alleviated a lot of initial worry and meant I could start the role feeling more relaxed and able to focus knowing those expenses were taken care of. I was also in touch with Najla regularly and that additional support and encouragement in the first few weeks helped me to feel more confident.”

Now 4 months into her internship, Giovanna is feeling settled and proud of herself. This achievement marked a transformative milestone in her career journey - moving from part-time work and uncertainty to a professional career pathway with real opportunities for growth. Securing this role has strengthened her confidence, self-belief, and sense of purpose. Reflecting on her journey, Giovanna shared:

“This opportunity is monumental to me, as it means that I am finally able to step onto the corporate career ladder, which previously felt very difficult to access. Thinking back to when I first started working with Drive Forward, I was a little sceptical due to previous opportunities falling through. But as soon as I saw the dedication of my career specialist Najla, I was inspired and given hope that I would find something that would help me progress in my career.”

Pascal’s story

During a shift at Caffè Nero, a chance meeting with Shereen, one of our Careers Managers, opened the door to career support that would help Pascal start thinking more seriously about his future in tech…

In May 2025 Pascal was completing an ICT support bootcamp and starting to think about his next steps. He shared with Shereen that his big goal was to get into the tech industry but was unsure how to take the next step on his own.

Inspired by their chat, Pascal joined Drive Forward and working alongside his Careers Specialist, Ahmed, began exploring different routes into professional work, building his confidence with applications and interviews along the way. That work paid off when he secured an 18-month Civil Service internship; in February 2026 Pascal started his role as Executive Officer and Diary Manager within the Department for Education.

Like many young people moving into a new role, the first few weeks brought extra pressure before his first pay cheque arrived. Pascal was worried about the cost of travelling across London each day and the support provided through the Closing the Gap fund meant he could focus on adjusting to the role and making a strong start:

“The travel money really helped take the pressure off, and the ongoing support from Ahmed means a lot – you can tell he genuinely cares.”

Although not yet working within the tech industry, Pascal is embracing this opportunity to gain work experience, develop new, transferable skills and build confidence in a professional setting. He’s already started thinking about what comes next and how this experience can help him move towards his long-term career in goals. Reflecting on the first few months he said:

“I’m enjoying my role, it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and grow my network. I’m already talking with my manager about professional development opportunities that’ll help me get closer to my dream of working in cyber security.”

Our Closing the Gap fund wouldn’t exist without you, and it makes a real difference to young people like Giovanna and Pascal every day. So, from us and them, THANK YOU.

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