02/06/2026
๐ INTRODUCING PROJECT ASCEND ๐
Achieving Skills, Careers, Employment, Networking & Development
Recognising the growing challenges of youth unemployment, particularly amongst 18โ25-year-olds, we believe more needs to be done to create genuine opportunities for young people to gain skills, experience, confidence, and access to meaningful employment.
Too often, young adults find themselves trapped in a cycle where employers want experience, but opportunities to gain that experience are limited. Whilst academic achievement is important, not everyone thrives within a traditional educational environment. Many talented individuals possess practical skills, determination, strong communication abilities, and a willingness to learn that are not always reflected in exam results.
Project ASCEND has been created to help bridge that gap.
Our aim is simple: to create opportunities for people who may not have had the easiest start, who may not fit the traditional academic pathway, or who simply need someone to believe in their potential.
Project ASCEND is about more than training. It's about creating pathways, removing barriers, building confidence, developing practical skills, and helping people take positive steps towards employment and long-term career development.
As part of Project ASCEND, we are proud to launch our first pathway: FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3).
This programme will provide individuals with the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst developing practical, real-world skills alongside experienced professionals.
The FREC 3 pathway can open doors to careers within healthcare, emergency response, patient transport services, event medical provision, security medicine, and many other related sectors.
We understand that the cost of training can often prevent people from pursuing new opportunities. That's why participants will be able to access the qualification without upfront payment. Instead, they will have the opportunity to work alongside our team and gradually contribute towards the cost of their training through paid operational work, gaining valuable experience whilst earning.
By combining learning with hands-on experience, participants can build confidence, strengthen their CV, develop professional skills, earn while they learn, and take meaningful steps towards future employment and career progression.
Whilst Project ASCEND is initially focused on supporting young adults into employment and career development, we recognise the importance of encouraging and developing interests from an early age.
As the project grows, we will be exploring opportunities for children and young people approaching their final years in school to gain qualifications, develop practical skills, and explore careers within the pre-hospital, healthcare, and medical sectors.
Many young people have a genuine interest in emergency services, healthcare, patient care, and helping others, yet often have limited opportunities to develop these interests in a structured way before leaving education.
By working with schools, educational establishments, parents, and community partners, we hope to identify and harness these interests, providing pathways that allow young people to develop their knowledge, confidence, and skills before they enter the workplace or further education.
Our goal is to inspire the next generation of healthcare and emergency service professionals by turning interest into ambition, ambition into skills, and skills into careers.
Volunteer opportunities will also form an important part of Project ASCEND. We recognise that volunteering can be a powerful stepping stone towards employment, helping individuals gain practical experience, develop confidence, build their CV, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Through volunteering, participants will have opportunities to develop teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills whilst exploring potential career pathways and supporting others.
We are excited to begin this journey and look forward to sharing further opportunities in the near future. This is just the beginning.
PROJECT ASCEND - Raising Aspirations. Building Futures.
