Challenge

The Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design’s (CIID) award winning consultancy team worked with the Rockwool Foundation and Social innovation expert Jennie Winhall to look at redesigning the youth unemployment service of young vulnerable people. Their particular challenge was how to create a sustainable service that builds the capabilities, sense of direction and motivation of vulnerable young people who have been unable to engage in sustained work and education.

Outcome

The new service, named NExTWORK, aimed to increase the number of opportunities available to unemployed young people by offering a network service and a new way for company leaders and young people to meet. The overall goal of the unemployment service is to reduce the number of young people on social benefits by getting them into permanent jobs or to start and sustain education. The core structure of the service consisted of a network of companies who were willing to offer internship opportunities and a group of young people who need to go through a developmental journey to find permanent jobs or education. The young people could rotate among the companies to help them develop a range of new skills and relations. A supporting tracking system allowed the companies, youth workers and the young people to track their own development in terms of employability, persistence and mental resilience. The final part of the service was an additional support system that revolved around monthly company network meetings and weekly meetings between the young people. The companies met to share their experiences, develop their leadership capabilities and ability to lead the group of young people and move them on to new work opportunities. The weekly meetings allowed the young people to reflect and learn from their own and each other’s challenges and success in the workplace.