Opening up opportunities for young people across Greater Cambridge.
Greater Cambridge is full of talented young people. But many miss out on opportunities because of their circumstances, not their potential.
Included is a new programme launching in Spring 2027 that will connect young people with experiences, people and opportunities that help them discover their strengths, develop skills and explore their futures
No single organisation can do this alone. Included brings together employers, schools, universities, community organisations and funders to open more doors - and to make sure more young people can walk through them.
Just want to find out more?
We’re on a mission. Join us!
By 2037, every young person in Greater Cambridge will have a good job or be on a clear path to one.
Talent is everywhere.
Opportunity is not.
Watch young people share their experience for two minutes, then tell us how you can help.
Help us share the challenge and need for contributions by following us on Linkedin and sharing the film
The challenge
Greater Cambridge is full of talented young people with different interests, strengths and ambitions. But too many young people are locked out of opportunities because of the barriers they face, not a lack of talent or ambition.
What a young person gets to experience still depends too often on their background, circumstances, what they know, who they know and whether somebody can help them find a way in.
There is already brilliant work happening across Greater Cambridge, but opportunities are not equally accessible, they can be difficult to find and navigate, and there simply aren't enough of the right opportunities for every young person.
The result is that too many young people miss out on experiences, relationships and connections that could help them discover their strengths, broaden their horizons and shape their futures.
How Included works
Included will create personalised pathways connecting young people with opportunities that match their interests, strengths and ambitions.
We’re working with employers, community organisations, schools and other partners to make existing opportunities easier to find and access, create new ones where there are gaps, and provide extra support where barriers are greatest. We will help young people build on their experiences and explore what comes next.
We're developing and testing this approach with young people and our partners, combining trusted adults, practical support and technology to help us reach more young people and ensure equitable access to opportunities.
A region-wide effort
This is a big ambition, and no single organisation can achieve it alone. We're asking businesses, universities, charities, community organisations and individuals across Greater Cambridge to contribute in two ways.
Open up opportunities
Could you offer a workplace visit, work experience placement, mentoring, careers advice, a workshop or a hands-on activity? Perhaps you could introduce young people to your industry, share your skills, offer an apprenticeship or open up a network they wouldn't otherwise have access to.
Big or small, one-off or ongoing, we're looking for experiences that help young people discover what's possible, build confidence, develop skills and explore their futures.
Help fund Included
We're also looking for businesses, foundations and individuals to help fund the development and delivery of Included. Funding will help us build and test personalised pathways, connect young people with opportunities, provide practical support to overcome barriers and develop the infrastructure needed to reach young people across Greater Cambridge.
Everyone has a role to play. What could you open?
Working for and with young people across Greater Cambridge
Our goal is to see more young people aged 16–25 moving into good jobs and fulfilling careers. But the journey starts much earlier. That’s why we will work with partners to support children from school age upwards, helping them discover their interests, build confidence and skills, and explore possibilities as they grow.
Young people's voices are at the heart of Included. Our Youth Communications Agency helped create the Included brand, shaping its identity, personality and messages to reflect what matters to them. And their involvement doesn't stop there. We'll continue working with young people to shape, test and improve Included, making sure their experiences, ideas and ambitions guide what we do.
Help us open more doors.
There are lots of ways to help open doors for young people across Greater Cambridge. Could you offer a workplace visit, work experience, mentoring, a workshop or a chance to discover a new career? Perhaps you have skills, expertise or connections to share.
We're also looking for funding to help develop Included and make opportunities accessible to more young people.
Whatever you can offer, big or small, we'd love to hear from you.
If nothing on this form feels right please email included@cambridge.go.uk to share your offer or idea.
With thanks to our early supporters
Included is a Cambridge City Council led project, within a wider regional system led by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.
With thanks to our early partners for their support.