Joshua’s Progression into Employment

When Joshua first sought support, he was facing significant barriers to employment. At 20 years old, he had been unemployed for over a year, was not in education or training, and had only a small amount of work experience from a brief role at Carlisle United when he was 16. His confidence was extremely low, and even everyday activities such as leaving the house or socialising felt overwhelming due to long‑standing social anxiety. The prospect of joining the workforce seemed unattainable to him. 

Encouraged by those close to him, Joshua nervously approached Inspira. He hoped for basic job‑searching advice and support to create a competent CV. His sessions were tailored to his needs, and he received guidance on writing CVs and cover letters, understanding what employers expect, and how to begin searching for suitable roles. This initial support gave him the foundation he needed to consider taking his first steps into employment.

Following an assessment, Joshua was referred to the Civil Service Recruitment Swap programme delivered by Inspira and Pro-Tect Training. The Inspira sessions helped him identify his soft and hard skills, tailor applications to job descriptions, and understand the expectations of administrative roles. The training with Pro-Tect expanded on the core principles of business administration, but despite his anxiety, Joshua attended each day, steadily building skills, confidence, and establishing a routine. He later described this period as the first time he could “see a light at the end of the tunnel.”