Five of our Steps into Employment students had the incredible opportunity to work at the Wimbledon Championships this year. They were offered paid roles thanks to Work at Wimbledon, an initiative run by the Wimbledon Foundation that offers supported pathways into employment for people facing barriers to getting jobs. 

Our students’ Wimbledon journey began well before the tournament. We arranged interview training and they took part in training days with the Wimbledon Foundation to help prepare for the roles on offer.  

All that preparation paid off. Anna and Joe joined the Guest Services Team, where they welcomed visitors at the gates, scanning tickets and helping set the tone for a great guest experience. Joe alone scanned an impressive 1,208 tickets in a single day! 

Anna-Marie encountered a challenge: some guests found it difficult to hear her over the crowd. But with the help of her employment tutor and her team at Wimbledon, she introduced communication cards, a simple but powerful adjustment that boosted her confidence and helped her connect more easily with visitors. 

Reflecting on her experience, Anna-Marie said, ‘My manager was Graham. He made me happy. I went to Graham for help. My colleagues helped me with what to say to visitors, like, "Hello, I need your ID and tickets ready please. Thank you!” And the scanner went beep!’ 

Shammah took on a role as a retail assistant in one of the shops. Although he was nervous at first, he quickly settled in, telling us, ‘I had a fun time at Wimbledon. Lovely people there. I hope to do it next year’. 

He was especially appreciative of the support he received from colleagues, ‘They took time to know me. They’re really nice...they were supportive. They helped me learn how to do things. Some people didn’t like it when I said they couldn’t bring drinks in the shop, but I had people next to me helping me [explain] why I was saying that.’ 

One of Shammah’s key takeaways? 

‘I learned how to work in a busy environment. It gets busy in the shop so easy.’ 

This experience has been a fantastic step forward for our students, giving them the chance to build skills, grow in confidence, and show what’s possible with the right preparation and support. We’re incredibly proud of them, and we look forward to seeing where their employment journeys take them next.