Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS) has launched “Thrive! Forward Intensive,” an ambitious programme in partnership with the Market Harborough Job Centre to support local young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Thrive! Forward Intensive is MHBS’s answer to the urgent challenges facing youth today.

Across the UK, nearly 13% of 16–24-year-olds (around 948,000 young people) are NEET, and many struggle with mental health pressures and financial instability.

By teaming up with the Job Centre, MHBS is directly reaching those who need help the most, providing tailored mentoring, practical skills training, and emotional well-being support to boost confidence and employability – all wrapped up in a five week, intensive programme.

The current cohort of twelve participants – the second intake to date - has just started their five-week Intensive course at MHBS’s new head office, taking their first steps toward brighter futures in work and education – and, all being well, will be ‘graduating’ on December 3rd.

Participants from the first cohort have spoken candidly about the impact of the programme, sharing how it has transformed their confidence and outlook.

One participant shared:

“Before doing this I was barely talking to people. Now I can have a good conversation with people, and doing this course has been brilliant for me.”

Another reflected:

“After the Mental Health session I realised many people go through it – I don’t have to go through it alone.”

These early successes show the power of the initiative in breaking down barriers and changing lives positively. The partnership with the Job Centre is a crucial first step to ensure that young people outside traditional education settings are not left behind.

Kim Pullen, Employment Advisor at Market Harborough Job Centre, commented on the impact:

“This partnership with MHBS is transforming lives by giving young people the confidence, skills, and support they need to take their next steps. It’s more than just preparation – it’s about unlocking potential and creating real opportunities for the future. We’re proud to work together on a programme that makes a lasting difference.”

To deliver Thrive! Forward Intensive’s core focus areas – mental health, financial literacy, and employability – MHBS has partnered with four specialist organisations:

• Local Mind (Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland, and Kettering) – provides mental health workshops to help young people manage stress and build resilience.

• Wize Up Financial Education – offers engaging sessions on budgeting, saving, and building financial independence.

• Young Enterprise – runs employability workshops on CV writing, interview skills, and business basics to prepare students for the working world.

• Spiral Skills – offers dynamic icebreakers to build trust, team challenges to develop communication, collaboration, and resilience; collaborative bridge-building for problem-solving and public speaking.

• In tandem with the Intensive version, a year-long Thrive! Forward program has begun, working with local schools and colleges.

As the programme grows, MHBS is committed to listening to feedback and expanding its reach demonstrating the Society’s long-term commitment by MHBS to empower young people and positively invest in the future of the local community.