First Minister Visits our WeConnect Hub in Wrexham

We were thrilled to welcome First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan MS and her team to our  WeMindTheGap WeConnect Hub in Wrexham to meet with a few of our Gappies.

She was keen to hear their stories of how they came to be on our Programmes, and some of the challenges and opportunities they are experiencing in today’s world.

Our CEO Ali Wheeler said, ‘I was delighted to welcome the First Minister to our Hub, we are so proud of our work in Wrexham, Flintshire and across North Wales. We spoke about our Big Conversation findings and that 47% of young people had told us that they are lonely and feel like they don’t belong anywhere and the impact that can have on them.

We also celebrated the fact that 50% of young people said they are Resilient & Self Reliant but want something different from the world of work.

We shared that employers had told us that recruiting and retaining young people had its challenges, but many, especially our Employer Partners want to work with WeMindTheGap so we can support them to understand more about taking a trauma informed approach to recruitment.

We shared that being part of the Wrexham Leadership Alliance, being able to bring the voices and stories of the incredible young people we walk alongside into discussions for future generations and the prosperity and growth of business and employment is a key priority for @wemindthegap.

The First Minister asked our Gappies about some of their challenges when entering the world of work, and one Gappie was able to share a story from that morning where her train was cancelled, therefore she could not get to work on time. Transport, access to regular bus/train routes, delays, cancellations and cost is one of the wider issues affecting businesses and communities in Wrexham’.

We would like to say a huge thankyou to our Gappies who joined us.

Carolina Catalao you were a credit to your employer Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Aaron you were a credit to your employer and our Employer Partner AVOW

Sasha and Ben from our current #WeGrow Programme in #Flintshire

Rob from our #WeBelong Alumni

It was a pleasure to include Rachel Clacher CBE our Founder and Trustee Sian Hughes Julie Done the share their thoughts.

Thank you also to Phil Bettinson from AVOW for taking the wonderful photographs.

Thank you to the First Minister Senedd Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government for meeting with us.