Southside Shopping Centre and Spear partner to champion youth employment

Southside shopping centre in Wandsworth has signed a three-year partnership with Spear, a charity focused on youth unemployment. 

Spear works with 16 to 24-year-olds facing barriers to employment, including those with few or no GCSEs, mental health challenges or who have grown up in care. 

Spear’s programme involves four-to-six weeks of community-based coaching, followed by up to 12 months of support as young people start work. 

Southside’s team will volunteer their time for workshops covering mock interviews, CV writing, workplace visits, career panels and Q&A sessions. 

The centre will also connect trainees with brands and service partners to find job opportunities and provide dedicated career guidance.

Shannon Reed, centre director at Southside, said: “Supporting and investing in our community is at the heart of what we do here at Southside. 

“We are proud to partner with Spear over the next three years, working together to make a meaningful impact in tackling youth unemployment in Wandsworth.

“This collaboration pairs Spear’s proven coaching expertise with our retail resources and brand partners, enabling us to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and employment pathways they need to build successful careers.”