Digital careers support for young people in Calderdale and Kirklees

In response to the COVID pandemic in 2020, C+K launched Chat, a digital careers service providing online support and advice to young people living and studying in Calderdale and Kirklees. This successful service has grown and now supports the current offer of careers guidance in schools and colleges, providing access to qualified C+K careers advisers, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

Young people aged 13-19, and up to age 24 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, can access support via phone, email, or Facebook messenger. Whether it's talking through career-related doubts, advice on money issues, support with job hunting, or helping with decision-making about course selections, the Chat team are here to help young people with their next steps. Chat advisers also receive calls and enquiries from parents and carers, and fellow professionals, wishing to support young people with career choices and options.

What queries can our advisers support with?

The Chat team provide information, advice and guidance on all things careers (subject choice, courses, college, training, apprenticeships, jobsearch, CVs, interview preparation) as well as offering support on a range of other issues affecting young people, for example health, money, housing, volunteering and much more – if the Chat team don’t know the answer to a query they will find somebody who does!

Benefits of digital careers support

Digital careers support means that young people can access the service at a time which is right for them. They can email or message the service 24/7 and pick up their adviser response at a time which is suitable for them. Clients can get back in touch at a later stage with further questions about their plans if needed - initial enquiries often become longer conversations.

Online careers support also means that young people can contact an adviser from the comfort of their own home, when they are in a safe space, being supported by parents or carers who can join the conversation via a conference call or write an email together.

Providing a range of ways to access careers support

The Chat digital service, alongside existing resources like the MyDirections website and support from C+K careers advisers in schools and colleges, provides a broadening range of ways for young people to access the support, advice and guidance they need and help them to make informed choices.

Contacting the Chat team

If you need advice or guidance, you can contact the Chat service on:

• 01484 213856
• chat@ckcareers.org.uk
• Facebook messenger service:  www.facebook.com/CKCareers

Find out more about the Chat service at https://ck.mydirections.co.uk/ck-chat