WREXHAM charity WeMindTheGap are changing the world, 10 young lives at a time.

In 2014, founder and trustee Rachel Clacher (CBE) launched the first pilot programme after seeing a lack of provision for vulnerable young people in her local community of Wrexham.

Today, the charity has grown beyond the borders of Wrexham, delivering programmes in Flintshire, Manchester and previously Liverpool. For the first time, in spring 2020, WeMindTheGap is running a pilot programme, specifically tailored for young men in the Borough of Manchester City Centre.

WeMindTheGap directly addresses and challenges social mobility through running holistic 12-month employment programmes, delivered with unashamed love and care, for 10 young people at a time. Participants are unemployed, aged 18-25, often referred by agencies such as Leaving Care, Youth Justice, homeless hostels and refuges.

The programme comprises six-months of paid employment, five varied work placements, one-to-one life coaching sessions and new experiences as well as essential skills. The following six-months of the programme focus on wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem to help each young person develop and achieve their goals, all graduates of the programme have a lifelong membership of the WeMindTheGap family.

WeMindTheGap has proven life affirming for the graduates of the programme, one young woman described her journey.

She said: "WeMindTheGap truly saved my life. Before I started, I couldn't see the light then the light slowly started to appear and now I'm happy to be here, working in my dream job, thank you all for saving my life".

In 2019, WeMindTheGap was honoured to be recognised by The National Lottery Community Fund, as an organisation to be invested in. The grant of £1.1 million was given to the charity, which in turn will allow the prospect of delivering up to 16 programmes, to 160 young people, in 16 communities across the United Kingdom, by 2023.

The strong network of dedicated funders, sponsors, employer partners and supporters are a reminder that together, working simultaneously, WeMindTheGap can continue to change lives for the better.