Like many young individuals in Greater Manchester, Georgia Sweeney found her initial venture into the professional world challenging. At the tender age of 17, she embarked on an apprenticeship at an insolvency firm while simultaneously retaking her English GCSEs at college. However, upon starting her role, the Collyhurst teenager realised she had stepped into the shoes of a student in his mid-twenties.

"They expected me to have a lot of skills that I just didn't have and I don't think the average 17-year-old would have," she expressed. After enduring seven months, Georgia decided to part ways with the company, leaving with a bruised confidence. "It got to the point where I didn't want to get out of bed and I didn't want to go to work anymore," she admitted, reports the Manchester Evening News. It warped the way I felt about working and the working world in general. I got really upset so I said I can't do this anymore."

As a caregiver for her mother, a traditional 9-to-5 job was not feasible for Georgia, but her previous experience as an apprentice had also soured her towards office work. Despite finding other employment opportunities, including seasonal work, Georgia was grappling with anxiety and depression which hindered her progress.

This led her to seek help from 42nd Street, a mental health charity dedicated to supporting young people across Greater Manchester. The organisation played a pivotal role in helping Georgia overcome her social anxiety through therapy sessions and rebuild her confidence.

She began her educational journey with night classes and courses tailored for adult learners, as well as becoming involved with a women's group at 42nd Street. Now at the age of 25, she has risen to manage that very group, integrating her duties within her role as a youth worker, where she dedicates herself to supporting those who have faced similar challenges.

Securing this position after being offered an internship by the charitable organisation, she frequently encounters young people wrestling with the challenges of securing employment.

However, for the fortunate few who do obtain a job, the associated costs often appear prohibitively 'expensive', as Georgia points out. "I constantly hear young people say 'I've applied for 100 jobs and you never hear anything back, not even a rejection', she explained," she shared.

"Some people just say they can't afford it. If they get paid the minimum wage, that doesn't cover their bills or rent. If they lose their job they could lose their benefits. They might have some mental health problems and work could make it worse. Young people do want to work," she insisted. "But everything's getting more expensive and wages aren't always keeping up with that."

Research by the People's Health Trust has highlighted a stark disparity in the North West, where young individuals are threefold more likely to be unemployed compared to the general working-age population, with 16 to 24 year olds comprising a staggering 40 per cent of the region's jobless demographic.

A health equity charity has uncovered that young individuals aged between 16 and 34 struggling with mental health issues are nearly five times more likely to lack economic activity compared to their counterparts who do not face such challenges. The People's Health Trust has chosen to empower the youth through its Good Work for Young People's Mental Health initiative, granting funds to 42nd Street with the aim of dismantling barriers obstructing young people in Greater Manchester from gaining valuable employment.

In what is seen as a 'pioneering approach', potentially replicable nationwide, 42nd Street will deliver dedicated employment assistance called Individual Placement and Support. This method has demonstrated success in aiding those with serious mental health conditions to find employment.

Commenting on the initiative, Chief executive of 42nd Street, Simone Spray enthused: "We have been hearing for many years from young people seeking support for their mental health, that they really want to find good places to work where they can build their skills and a secure future, so we are delighted that the model will allow young adults to have a voice and shape what will work the best for them and for employers. There are so many exciting opportunities in Greater Manchester, especially in the creative and digital space - we can't wait to get started!"

John Hume, Chief Executive of People's Health Trust, has emphasised the importance of providing a solid foundation for young people as they transition into adulthood. He expressed concern over the gap between expectations and reality for the younger generation.

Hume stated: "Young people deserve the very best of starts to their adult lives. What many have told us is that this is far from the reality. Many feel confined to a life of anxiety and worsening mental issues with no prospects of finding good work. Our programme will provide the very best of support to young people in Manchester with mental health problems, whilst hopefully demonstrating both a cost-effective way of helping to reduce mental health problems and supporting young people into meaningful work and positive future."