Foundation of Light’s collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions has been improving employability outcomes for young people across Sunderland and the surrounding areas.
Kate-Ann Marie Johnson is one of the 16-24-year-olds to have found work with the help of the Youth Employment Hub, which is jointly delivered by Sunderland AFC’s official charity and the DWP.
After meeting with Kate, Foundation employability coach Susan Kane quickly identified a lack of self-confidence as a root cause of her struggles to find a job with her tally of unsuccessful applications mounting up.
Despite previous experience in an additional needs school and retail helping towards a strong CV, consistent setbacks in her job search including no responses and unsuccessful interviews had eroded Kate’s confidence.
Susan drafted a plan to help Kate rebuild her confidence and to help make sure that her bright personality came out during job interviews. Through one-to-one support, with a big focus on interview techniques and refining her CV to make her experiences stand out, Kate started to shine.
Kate’s genuine ambition to improve and her engagement in every session was key to her progress, and when a vacancy opened at the Beacon of Light’s Yard Nine Café, Susan felt she was ready to apply.
Within a week of her interview, Kate found out that she had been successful, securing the role in early September 2025, three months on from joining the Youth Employment Hub in June.
“I was referred to the Beacon working with Sue from the Foundation and Neil from the DWP,” Kate said on the start of her journey.
“Even though I had good experiences in a SEND school and retail and quite a good CV, you would get no response or one interview for every 50 applications.
“After months of applying for jobs and getting nowhere, I ended up getting a job after a few months with them.”
Kate is now thriving in her new role, exhibiting the personality that she previously struggled to bring out in job interviews when serving customers with a smile and genuine enthusiasm on every shift.
“I’ve had good feedback on my service, that I do good coffees and good presentation on my sandwiches.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity. It’s a nice job alongside my studies, I’m also doing a finance course, it’s working out well so far.”
Kate’s success highlights the impact of personalised employability support, showing how confidence, guidance and opportunity can help young people take their first steps into employment.
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