Argosy Lodge

London Freemasons have donated a grant of £10,000 to a London-based charity helping young people into work.  Circle Community and Circle Collective work together to support young people experiencing a range of barriers to find permanent, life-changing work through their ‘Back Your Future’ programme.

The programme is run across three of London’s most deprived areas – Hackney, Lewisham and Canary Wharf – providing opportunities for young people aged 16-30 to build their confidence, self-esteem and skills in order to find long-term jobs, financial independence or training opportunities.  This unique programme combines frequent CV workshops, employability skills training and networking opportunities, as well as confidence-building exercises and mental health and well-being workshops.

The charity believes that every young person who would like to work should be given the opportunity to do so, supporting unemployed young people experiencing multiple disadvantages and barriers to secure sustainable employment in an industry they care about. 

The charity’s social enterprise, Circle Collective, builds further upon skills attained from the programme’s various training and workshops by using its three streetwear stores to serve as an invaluable training ground for young people seeking employment.  Most of the young people enrolled on the Back Your Future programme have not been able to get a job through lack of work experience and, of course, they can’t get experience because they can’t get a job. Currently, 46% of the young people who enrol with Circle lack any work experience at all. To overcome this, all trainees on the programme do two four-hour shifts per week on the shop floor in one of Circle Collective’s branches, providing them with much needed, structured work experience. 

With their motto “Buy social, support your local community,” it is the charity’s aim that all profits from their stores are fully reinvested back into the training of young people and ‘breaking the circle’ of youth unemployment.  Everything purchased from their stores and website will help a young person into work, thereby giving both people and brands a purpose.  

Here are some of the testimonials from young people who found employment via the programme:

"I am really enjoying working with the team at Aim Skills and have learned so much already. I never would have applied for this if it wasn't for Circle. Thank you so much." Amina, Digital Media Apprentice at Aim Skills

"I never thought I would get the chance to work in the creative industry. I was worried about my housing, but Circle showed me that with the right support you can do anything. Every other day I get a message or a text to check I'm OK." Charlie, Student and Intern at Commercial Break

"I don't like making eye contact with people, so maybe that's why I couldn't pass interviews. But after enough interview practice I'm now used to it!" Jerrone, Warehouse Assistant at FedEx

"I couldn't have done it without Circle. They gave me the support I needed and they still text and call to make sure I'm OK." Tanzilah, Childcare Assistant at a local nursery

Since 2012, the Circle Community have supported over 1500 unemployed young people into permanent work. Over 70% of young people who complete their course move into employment, education or training outcomes. This represents a strong return on investment, with £4.98 of social value generated from every £1 spent. 

Turly Humphreys, CEO of Circle Collective commented on the grant: “These are very tough times for charities and this donation will help even more young people from slipping through the cracks and instead starting on their career journey.”

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 Spring 2025 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 57 here.