Case Study

Angus is finding his voice and his future

9 Sep. 2026

When Angus first became involved with Ingeus, he was looking for a way forward.

Now 29 years old and living in Derbyshire, Angus first completed a peer mentoring programme with Ingeus after being referred through probation. Like many jobseekers, he was facing uncertainty about his future and struggling to find an opportunity that would allow him to begin building the career he wanted.

“I wanted someone to give me a chance so I can begin a career,” he says.

Originally from Birmingham, Angus has a wide range of interests, from music production, video editing and gaming to spending time outdoors hiking and camping. His long-term ambition is to secure a stable career, either in administration or working in green spaces, while building a secure future for himself.

However, that future felt difficult to reach.

“A large majority of jobs I'd applied to would reject me,” he explains. “I felt as though nothing was going to change for me.”

While he had gained valuable experience through previous jobs, repeated rejections had begun to affect his confidence.

“At first, I had a lot of confidence. However, after so many rejections and no offers for interviews, I felt my confidence deplete a little.”

Everything changed when Suzanne Hunt, Ingeus Peer Mentor Lead, introduced him to Youth Voice.

“I haven't looked back since,” says Angus.

Ingeus Youth Voice brings together young people from different backgrounds to share their experiences, influence services and help shape programmes designed to support other young people. For Angus, the opportunity immediately stood out.

“I really loved the ethos,” he says. “The idea that we need to listen to the youth and shape their experience through what would help them reach their goals enticed me. I knew that our ideas would be listened to and thought about how it would be implemented.”

From the beginning, he felt welcomed and encouraged to contribute.

“Everyone was very welcoming and open to new ideas and suggestions. Very relaxed environment which put us all at ease.”

Since joining Youth Voice, Angus has participated in a range of events and workshops, including attending Youth Voice hubs in Leeds and contributing ideas for new workshops and content creation projects.

One experience in particular left a lasting impression.

“I would say the first meeting we all had,” he recalls. “It had the biggest impact on me because it made me realise that I do have good ideas as well as the other Youth Ambassadors.”

For someone whose confidence had taken a knock, the realisation was significant.

“My confidence in my own ideas has got better through this experience,” he explains.

Over time, Youth Voice has helped Angus develop more confidence in speaking up, sharing opinions and contributing to group discussions. What started as a challenge has become one of his biggest personal achievements.

“Overall I would say that it has helped me have confidence in my own voice,” he says. “At first I was shy but now I know that what I say has meaning and depth.”

He also credits the programme with strengthening his teamwork skills.

“The collaborative nature of the sessions allowed me to work with my peers in an effective way. Not one person taking lead but rather us all helping one another.”

One of his most memorable experiences came when the group took part in filming interviews.

“I have always been not good in front of camera,” he admits, “but this exercise helped me come out of my shell.”
The opportunity to work alongside other ambassadors has also reinforced the importance of creating space for young people's views and experiences.

“I've met many new faces. All with the same goal of listening and making Youth Voice a place for us to be heard and listened to with respect.”

Importantly, Angus feels that his views have genuinely been valued.

“In some of the Justice hubs, we all were making suggestions that staff were genuinely taking seriously.”
As well as building confidence, Youth Voice has had a positive impact on Angus' future prospects.

“On my CV it says I am a Youth Ambassador volunteering for Ingeus which shows to future employers that I am proactive and take my work seriously.”

The experience has also opened his mind to new career possibilities.
“It's made me consider working within the criminal justice system to help people affected,” he says. “Something I had never thought about before.”

Today, Angus feels far more positive about what lies ahead. With an upcoming interview for a green space apprenticeship and a renewed belief in his own abilities, he is focused on building a stable future.

“Success to me in the next few years is a strong family connection alongside a stable career which allows me to stand on my own two feet.”

Reflecting on his Youth Voice journey, Angus describes the experience in three words: “exciting, collaborative, relaxing.”

Looking back on everything he has gained from the experience, there's one lesson he hopes others take away from his story:

“To not lose hope and to realise that everyone has something important to say and to voice it.”

Find out more about Youth Voice.