21/05/2026
On 18 May, the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP) was honoured to work with our partners at Central London Forward to organise the Full Potential Programme Celebrating Success Event on their behalf. The programme is part of the DWP Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, funded by the Greater London Authority.
The event brought together partners, employers, advisers, training providers, delivery organisations and young people from across the twelve London boroughs that are part of Central London Forward, to celebrate the impact of a programme that has supported more than 700 care-experienced young people over the past year.
Through mentoring, employability support, training, work placements, apprenticeships and career development opportunities, the programme has helped young people move closer towards sustainable futures and greater confidence in their next steps.
One of the most powerful aspects of the event was hearing directly from the young people themselves. Their stories brought honesty, insight and perspective to the room, highlighting both the barriers they have faced and the progress they have made when the right support, encouragement and opportunities are in place.
We were also privileged to hear from Ashley John-Baptiste, whose deeply personal reflections resonated strongly with everyone attending. Speaking openly about his experiences of growing up in care, alongside themes of resilience, identity and representation, Ashley brought real depth to the discussion and powerfully reinforced the importance of continuing to invest in meaningful support for young people.
The event was also a celebration of collaboration across central London. The achievements recognised throughout the day reflected the dedication and commitment of organisations and professionals working together to create opportunities, build confidence and help young people realise their full potential.
The IEP would like to thank Central London Forward, Compass Consult and all borough partners, employers, advisers, training providers, delivery partners and organisations involved in making the programme and the event such a success. It was a privilege to support an event that placed young people’s voices, achievements and aspirations at its heart.
