Young Adults at Risk

This program helps young adults at risk, who are not employment ready, obtain sustainable employment. This may include current or former youth in care.

The program provides skills training and employment supports that are based on the needs of the participant, to help them overcome barriers to employment and give them the skills required to succeed in the workplace and beyond.

Read participant success stories.

Eligible Participants

The program stream is primarily* open to unemployed or precariously employed young adults aged 16−29 who are generally not employment ready — meaning an absence of the necessary skills to seek, obtain and keep a job once hired—and face one or more barriers to employment:

• Housing instability
• Prior criminal justice involvement
• Incomplete high school education
• Recovering from addiction
• Mental health challenges

*Additional eligibility requirements may apply, depending on the program type and/or the specific services and training offered. 

Services

Programs include skills training and employment supports to obtain sustainable employment. Employment supports address barriers to participation in skills training and employment. Examples include counselling, mentoring, child care, transportation, disability supports, work experience, wage subsidies and equipment.

Programs by region:
 

Cariboo

Starting Point Program

Indigenous at-risk young adults receive essential skills, life skills, job readiness and technical skills training for jobs in construction machinery, or computers and technology. The program is based on the medicine wheel and participants work on an individual basis with a team of employment counsellors and facilitators.

Training Locations:

• Prince George

Contact: Prince George Native Friendship Centre Society, email or 250-564-3568 (ext. 230)
 

Quality Upgrading Education and Skills Training (QUEST)

Offers foundational skills, employment readiness skills, relevant certificate training and supports for at-risk young adults experiencing challenges in workforce attachment.

Training Locations:

• Mackenzie
• Prince George
• Valemount 

Contact: Workforce Development Consulting Services, email or email or 250-564-8044

Mainland/Southwest

Indigenous Youth Employment Program (IYEP)

Supports Indigenous at-risk young adults to overcome barriers and acquire the necessary skills and training for sustainable employment.

Training Location:

• Vancouver

Contact: Association of Neighborhood Houses BC, email or 604-251-1225
 

Strive Program

Provides young adults in and from government care with life and employment skills workshops, short-term occupational training certificates and supports. Participants receive honorariums for attending the program.

Training Location:

• Vancouver

Contact: YWCA Metro Vancouver, email or 604-605-4666
 

Employing Youth from Care (Bootstraps Project)

Provides young adults transitioning out of care with essential skills, occupational skills and soft skills training, including supported work experience placements.

Training Locations:

• New Westminster
• Vancouver

Contact: Aunt Leah's Independent Life Skills Society, email or 604-525-1204 (ext. 225)
 

Rewired

Supports at-risk young adults with skilled trades training and employment. Training includes a paid 4-week discovery and information curriculum and a paid 8-week work experience program.

Training Locations:

• North Vancouver

Contact: Hollyburn Community Services Society, email or 604-987-8211

North Coast and Nechako

Quality Upgrading Education and Skills Training (QUEST)

Offers foundational skills, employment readiness skills, relevant certificate training and supports for at-risk young adults experiencing challenges in workforce attachment.

Training Locations:

• Burns Lake
• Kitimat
• Prince Rupert
• Terrace
• Vanderhoof 

Contact: Workforce Development Consulting Services of Northern BC Ltd., email or email or 250-564-8044

Northeast

Learn Innovate Transform (LIT) Program

Delivers individualized skills training services for at-risk young adults. Participants receive employment readiness skills, life skills, wraparound supports, a warehousing certification and safety tickets for their identified target industry.

Training Locations:

• Fort St. John
• Virtual

Contact: Employment Connections North Corp., email or 250-787-0024 or 1-855-987-0024
 

Quality Upgrading Education and Skills Training (QUEST)

Offers foundational skills, employment readiness skills, relevant certificate training and supports for at-risk young adults experiencing challenges in workforce attachment.

Training Locations:

• Dawson Creek
• Fort St. John

Contact: Workforce Development Consulting Services, email or email or 250-564-8044

Thompson-Okanagan

Youth at Risk Gateway to Trades Sampler

Allows participants to explore careers in Carpentry, Electrical, Heavy Mechanical, Plumbing and Piping, Sheet Metal and Welding, including practical skills training and employment certifications.

Training Location:

• Kelowna

Contact: Okanagan College, email or 250-862-5457
 

Next Gen: Matrix 2.0 Employment Experience

Provides at-risk young adults with employment readiness skills, occupational skills, one-on-one coaching and case management services for employment in the mining, manufacturing and service sectors.

Training Location:

• Princeton

Contact: Princeton and District Skills Centre Society, email or 250-295-4051