The SAND Project in Worthing invites individuals to share their first jobs

The SAND Project has launched #GiveItAGo, a new social media campaign inviting its community to share stories and photographs of their first jobs and the unexpected career journeys that followed: https://www.instagram.com/sandprojectltd

Based in Worthing, The SAND Project provides employment-focused post-16 education for young people with additional support needs. The campaign reflects SAND's belief that young people don't need to have their whole future mapped out before they take their first steps into working life.

SAND is asking individuals to get involved by sharing a photograph of themselves at the age of their first job, together with a short story about what the job involved and what they learned from the experience. Stories could cover anything from how someone found their first job and the new skills they had to learn, to funny memories and unexpected experiences.

 The autumn campaign will start with stories from SAND staff, trainees, friends and employers. The message behind the campaign is that nobody has a straight-line career.

 Kate Davis, co-founder and CEO at The SAND Project, said: “Your first job doesn't have to be your dream job – mine was my grandparents' market stall. But getting started can teach you things, introduce you to people and build your confidence. That's why we're asking individuals to share their first-job stories, because you never know where that first step might take you.”

 The campaign reflects SAND's employment-focused approach to post-16 education for young people with additional support needs. Its model focuses on practical learning, enterprise and real-world experience, helping young people discover their strengths, develop confidence and build skills for the workplace. Kate Davis added: “We encourage our trainees to have a go, try different things and discover what they're good at. You don't always need to know exactly where you're going before you take the first step.”

 For young people with SEND, the transition from education into employment can be particularly challenging. The Government's 2026 Young People and Work report states that young people with SEND are around 80% more likely to not be in employment, education or training (NEET).

 “The stakes couldn’t be higher,” says Kate Davis, “young people with additional needs face prejudice which makes finding work harder. This often dents confidence and makes individuals worried about failing. At SAND we encourage, nudge and even nag our trainees to try new things. It’s as much about the right attitude as it is about the right skills.”

 Against this background, #GiveItAGo encourages young people to believe that they do not need to have everything worked out before they take their first step. The campaign will run primarily on Instagram, with SAND sharing the personal stories and photographs contributed by its community.

 Follow The SAND Project on Instagram to see the #GiveItAGo stories, and share your own first-job story using #GiveItAGo >> https://www.instagram.com/sandprojectltd