The Lionesses

When a group of young women first came together through a local support group, they were not in education, employment or training (NEET) and were facing a range of personal challenges that made
taking their next steps feel difficult. The group were navigating barriers including anxiety, social isolation, neurodiversity, substance misuse and involvement with the justice system. They called themselves The Lionesses and joined the KEY+ Challenge with a shared ambition to build their confidence, develop new skills, try new things and create a more positive future for themselves.

The young women began KEY+ by getting to know one another, building friendships and developing their confidence. As part of the KEY+ process, they worked together to come up with an idea, plan how they would deliver it and pitch it to a panel of volunteers.

For the group, standing in front of a panel of unfamiliar adults and explaining their idea was a significant and daunting step. It required them to work as a team, communicate their ideas, prepare and practise their pitch, manage their nerves and respond to questions.

Despite their anxiety, the group came together to deliver their first pitch. They proposed a group trip to Flamingo Land, giving them an opportunity to socialise, try new things and challenge themselves. Once their idea was approved, they put their plans into action. For some of the young women, travelling, meeting new people or trying unfamiliar activities could feel daunting. The group supported each other to face those fears, with several young women overcoming fears they would previously have avoided.

They then faced another significant KEY+ milestone yet again - their pitch to a panel! Having to stand up and present their plans, explain their idea and respond to questions challenged them to use the confidence and communication skills they had been developing. For young women who had initially found social situations and speaking in front of others difficult, this was a meaningful step forward. It was no doubt that the group got the go ahead they were after and were ready to put their plans into action.

The Lionesses sourced recycled glassware and candle holders, learned how to make candles safely and produced a significant batch of products, applying their budgeting and plans to make it all
happen. They identified local opportunities, reached out to their community and used local online Facebook groups to promote their products. Through this journey, the young women developed and demonstrated a wide range of essential skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, planning, budgeting, numeracy, digital skills, creativity, independence, confidence and resilience.

Crucially, these skills were developed through a process of doing. Just like a lot of young people who complete KEY+, its often their first time experiencing real agency and responsibility. Taking an idea through to completion provided the group with a real sense of achievement and as they saw their plans, budgets and hardwork become reality.

The Lionesses’ journey through KEY+ helped the young women recognise their own strengths and potential. Having initially faced significant barriers to participation, they developed the confidence to try new things, take on responsibility and recognise the contribution they could make.

Following their engagement with KEY+, the young women began moving onto positive pathways into education, employment, volunteering and work experience. Their KEY+ experience helped them to look more positively towards their futures and recognise the skills, confidence and experience they can bring to their communities, education and the workplace.

The Lionesses’ journey demonstrates how KEY+ can support young people who are NEET to build confidence, develop essential employability skills through real-world experiences and take meaningful steps towards progression.