News
YES is all about backing young people in Stoke-on-Trent aged 16–24 - helping them build confidence, gain skills, and take their next step.
If you’re figuring things out or need a bit of support, we’re here for that. From jobs and training to real experiences, we bring everything together in one place so you don’t have to navigate it alone.
This is where you can keep up with what’s happening - the latest updates, opportunities, and stories from across YES.
CARE LEAVERS AT THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
22/06/2026
Matt joined Martyna from YMCA North Staffordshire this morning to attend the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, where he introduced the day's session; looking at how local organisations can work together to support our care leavers as part of the Future Ready Pledge
It is so inspiring to see young people help lead the way and make meaningful change in our city
MEET MATT
18/06/2026
We're delighted to have Matt join us as a job coach!
Matt has gone on an incredible journey, from taking part in YES sessions, to working with the teams at YMCA Go! and Y-Active Leisure Centre, we're thrilled to have Matt as part of the team to help you say YES to your future!
ZAGHAM'S HERO
08/06/2026
When Zagham mentioned that he needed someone to help promote his business we knew just the person! After arranging a meeting at Comic Con one of our YES candidates is already hard at work to raise the profile of this exciting new brand! Way to go!
YES ON THE AIR
29/05/2026
The YES Programme is all about helping young people build confidence, develop new skills, and take positive steps towards employment, education and brighter futures. 💚
Recently, Chris, YES Programme manager, joined BBC Radio Stoke to talk about the amazing impact YES is having with young people across our communities.
From employability support and confidence building to creating opportunities and helping young people believe in themselves again, the conversation shines a light on why YES matters so much.
🎧 Have a listen and hear how YES is supporting young people to say YES to new futures
FINLAY'S SUCCESSES
15/05/2026
Since joining the YES Programme in April, Finlay has achieved so much - from employability training and YMCA Jobs Club sessions to completing work experience with Inspirational Learning Group
A huge milestone has been securing a Youth Ambassador role at the YMCA, showing just how much his confidence and skills have grown.
We’re incredibly proud of everything Finlay has accomplished so far and can’t wait to see what’s next
MATT MAKING MOVES
20/04/2026
Matt, one of our YES candidates, found
himself in the middle of something pretty big...
The first All Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs to be
held outside of London was hosted right here in
Stoke-on-Trent, bringing loads of people together to chat about the future of youth work.
All part of a bigger piece called ‘Youth Work in 2035’… no pressure.
Big moment for Matt to be in the room and be a big part of the conversation!
FROM YES TO JCB
13/04/2026
One of our young people has just landed an apprenticeship with JCB - huge.
Hard work, consistency, and backing themselves all the way.
This is exactly what YES is here for!
FROM VOLUNTEER TO CAREER
06/03/2026
We caught up with Harriet, Youth Engagement Officer at YMCA North Staffordshire, to hear about her journey - from volunteering to building a career supporting young people
From taking her first steps into youth work to now supporting and empowering young people every day, Harriet’s story is a brilliant example of where passion and commitment can lead
SAYING YES TO SUCCESS
23/02/2026
A look back at our journey
From powerful projects and inspiring young people to unforgettable moments and everyday wins, this mini retrospective captures just a snapshot of everything we’ve built together over the past year.
Thank you to every young person, partner, volunteer and supporter who’s been part of the journey - your passion, creativity and commitment continue to make a real difference across our community
FESTIVE BAKING
25/11/2025
We were getting in the festive spirit in the kitchen yesterday as we made a Christmas classic - Yule Log ⛄🎄
Thanks to Real Food School we learned all kinds of useful kitchen skills and working together. We might be biased but it was absolutely delicious!
WELL DONE!
24/09/2025
We're so proud of the dedication and hard
work of the young people we work with
"Eli has helped me a lot to get me where I am she has encouraged me a lot and now I am doing an
engineering apprenticeship and today I passed my CSCS test"
It is so amazing to see all your effort paying off!
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
19/09/2025
Young people leading the way!
A couple of our young people joined us at the Chambers of Commerce to discuss the Business Pledge – a commitment from local businesses to work together and remove barriers that stop young people getting into employment
Great to see youth voices at the table, shaping a future where opportunities are more accessible for everyone
JCB TOUR
18/09/2025
What a day with JCB
We started with a tour of the museum, digging into their
history and checking out the amazing machines
they’ve built over the years, including their new
hydrogen-powered vehicles
Then it was onto the factory floor - watching a digger
come together from just an engine to the finished
machine was mind-blowing.
Huge thanks to JCB for having us!
WELL DONE!
12/09/2025
A massive well done to everyone on passing their Health & Safety in the Construction Environment Level 1 training! 100% of the young people YES supported on the programme absolutely aced it!
Your hard work has paid off - and then some!
EMPLOYABILITY AND CONFIDENCE WORKSHOP
08/09/2025
From interview prep to climbing high!
This week, young people took part in an employability workshop focused on interview preparation, building the confidence and skills they’ll need to take their next step into work.
We also mixed things up with a challenge wall and crate stacking activity - a chance to test teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in a fun (and slightly nerve-wracking!) way.
At YES Stoke, it’s all about learning, growing, and supporting each other - whether that’s in the interview room or 10 crates off the ground!
RESULTS DAY
21/08/2025
We had a great time at St Thomas Moore Academy as everyone got their results
Now you've got them, what comes next? If you're not sure then YES is ready to take that next step on the path to success with you
YOUTH CELEBRATION DAY
15/07/2025
WHAT. A. DAY! 🎉
We were proud to be part of the BIGGEST Youth Celebration Stoke-on-Trent has ever seen - and it did not disappoint
From a show-stopping performance by Antidote to powerful conversations driven by young people themselves, this was a day full of passion, creativity, and energy
We also had the chance to hold our own YES Awards - shining a spotlight on some of the incredible journeys, growth, and achievements of the young people we’ve worked with
Massive thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and stood with us to celebrate youth voice. The future is bright, and it’s being built by young people like these
DIAMOND FARMS WORK EXPERIENCE
02/05/2025
Hands-on experience at Diamond Farms!
Our YES candidates recently got stuck in during a few days of work experience at Diamond Farms
From learning about animal care and farming to getting hands-on with daily tasks, it was an amazing opportunity to build confidence, develop practical skills, and explore future career patheways in a real working environment!
A huge thank you to everyone at Diamond Farms for welcoming our young people and giving them an experience to remember!
DIGITAL DESIGN WORKSHOP
01/05/2025
We spent a fantastic two days with Carse and Waterman where we learned all about digital art and costume design - and we had a great time!!
We got insight into character design and how we can take inspirations from lots of sources in our own creations. We even had the chance to use industry standard software to create fun and imaginative outfits!
Thank you to Carse and Waterman for having us!
INSPIRED FILM WORKSHOP
23/04/2025
A massive thank you to Inspired Film for coming in and giving us an introduction to film production!
We learned lots of useful tips and are ready to get started on lot of projects for the Lovestoke100 film project!
YES DEVELOPMENT DAY
15/04/2025
Our fantastic job coaches came together for the YES Development Day - a chance to pause, reflect, and plan for the future
We looked back on the first year of the project, the young people we’ve supported and the challenges we’ve overcome. It was also a time to share ideas, learn from each other, and think big about where we go next
It was amazing to see so much energy, passion and commitment in one room and we look forward to another year of saying YES to success, growth and opportunity!
NEW AVENGERS
02/04/2025
Avengers, Assemble
For years people from across Stoke-on-Trent have stepped up, made an impact and changed the world. Now a new generation is ready to answer the call to action!
We're looking for the city's New Avengers - the young people who are making a difference. Whether they're leading projects, supporting others, creatives or overcoming challengers, we want to hear their stories and honour them by immortalising them in comic form!
Do you know someone aged 10-25 who deserves recognition? Nominate them today tr.ee/K9clPg
GENIUS WITHIN
20/03/2025
We've had the pleasure of working with Genius WIthin this week!
They have been helping show us how to unlock our talents while appreciating how and celebrating how our difference and diversity help add to the wonders of being alive!
THE LOVE STOKE 100 FILM FESTIVAL
21/03/2025
We recently visited our friends at Carse and Waterman to learn more about their new exciting project for the Stoke-on-Trent centenary; The Love Stoke 100 Film Festival
The project is as simple as it is exciting; short films about why we love Stoke-on-Trent. Easy! We're already working to brainstorm all the great things about our city
FANCY A CHAT?
19/03/2025
We're always here to lend a friendly ear
The future can feel uncertain, but you don’t have to face it alone. If you're feeling nervous or unsure, your YES job coach is ready to listen and support you
CONGRATULATIONS ADAM
13/03/2025
We want to take a moment to say a massive well done to Adam for winning the Courageous Spirit Award from Caudwell Children, as part of their Shaping Futures Programme! This honour embodies everything that the programme stands for - resilience, determination and the courage to chase your dreams!
Never backing down from a challenge he never backed down and constantly worked hard to turn his goals into reality. Adam has taken his first steps on an exciting new journey: starting college to become a translator!
Congratulations Adam, your determination, passion and courage are an inspiration to us all. Never stop dreaming, never stop believing and never change!
WAVEMAKER SESSION
14/02/2025
We were lucky enough to have the fantastic team over at Wavemaker host another digital skills session!
Our young people got hands-on with experimenting with new and exciting technologies and how they could utilise AI in their day to day loves, learning new skills and exploring fresh ideas. It’s all about saying YES to new opportunities and building confidence for the future!
SAYING YES TO SUCCESS
14/02/2024
🎉 300+ young people supported – and we're just getting started! 🎉
YES Stoke has now helped over 300 young people build confidence, gain new skills, and take steps toward their future. From workshops to job coaching, we’re here to make sure every young person has the support they need to succeed.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who’s been part of this journey – from our incredible team to the amazing young people who say YES to new opportunities every day!
Here’s to the next 300!
TOXIC POPCORN TEAM BUILDING
10/02/2025
At YES, we believe in developing essential skills through hands-on experiences. That’s why we teamed up with The Inspirational Learning Group to take on the Toxic Popcorn Challenge - a fun and interactive team-building workshop designed to strengthen problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
Using a mix of materials and plenty of creative thinking, participants worked together to overcome obstacles, proving that even the biggest challenges become more manageable with the right approach. The session was a great way to highlight the importance of working as a team, thinking outside the box, and developing the skills needed for future success.
A huge thank you to The Inspirational Learning Group for leading such an engaging and insightful session! We can’t wait for the next challenge.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
10/02/2024
It’s National Apprenticeship Week!
Apprenticeships are an incredible way to gain real-world experience, earn while you learn, and build a future career all while getting hands-on training in your chosen field.
At YES, we’re all about helping young people find the right path for them. Whether it’s an apprenticeship, further education, or employment, we’re here to support you in saying YES to success!
EPIC FUTURES
28/01/2025
Today we welcomed a fantastic session from Epic Futures on starting your own business. 💼✨
Our young people explored what it takes to be their own boss, learned about the key steps to starting a business, and gained valuable advice on turning ideas into reality. The session sparked creativity, inspired confidence, and gave practical tools to help them take their first steps into entrepreneurship.
We’re excited to see the amazing ideas and plans they’ll create!
SAY YES
13/01/2025
We’re proud to have supported over 250 young people in Stoke-on-Trent! Whether it’s finding employment or building key skills, we’re inspired by the dedication and hard work of every amazing young person we’ve worked with.
We’re here to help people keep saying YES:
✨ YES to Opportunity
✨ YES to Success
✨ YES You Can
KREATIVE JOBS CLUB
10/01/2025
Thank you to Kirsty from Kreative Foundations for coming in yesterday and joining our Jobs Club
We all got to know each other and explored how to be effective communicators, as well as the importance of languange and how it can affect our self confidence
A FESTIVE JOBS CLUB
12/12/2024
We combined job coaching with a little holiday cheer at our festive job club session for YES participants!
We got creative and built some gingerbread houses, because teamwork and developing skills can be sweet in more ways than one!
It’s all part of helping young people say YES to opportunities, growth, and success this festive season.