From intern to impact: my time with GoodWork

By Tyresse Jordan

In September, I joined GoodWork on an initial three month contract, expecting lots of learning. A few months later, that experience turned into something much bigger. From a simple Google search, what I found was a charity with a mission to create fairer employment opportunities for young people from underserved communities. But I had walked into so much more…

I applied to GoodWork for two main reasons. One, the Marketing & Engagement role aligned with my career path into social media management. Two, their values resonated with mine. All young people need is a platform. That’s it. Whether it comes from privilege, a parent, a family friend or simply networking, access is everything.

Felicity did what many of us are too scared to do. She acted on this belief and built something powerful through GoodWork. Not only did I want to help, I wanted to make an impact. And although it was only a three-month role, I made it my mission to embed young people’s voices into the heart of GoodWork.

I was trusted with creating creation across all our social media platforms, particularly focusing on TikTok and Instagram, but also getting involved with LinkedIn and our email marketing, as well as auditing our performance across platforms. When I began, our TikTok account had 870 followers, Instagram had 320 and LinkedIn had 4,400. Over time, our marketing team saw a real increase in engagement, followers and consistency across every channel. We've gained over 1,000 followers in less than half a year!

But numbers only tell part of the story.

What they cannot show is my personal development during this internship. Being in a team filled with different personalities, all rooting for me and eager to help me grow, built more than just office friendships. I felt trusted, accepted, supported and, most importantly, understood. That translated into my work. Every time I received feedback, I took it on board. No complaints, just learning. When I faced adversity, I embraced it, because I knew I had a team behind me.

From day one, I got a real taste of working in the charity sector. It was not easy but it pushed me to handle responsibilities I did not think I would be trusted with so early on. As weeks turned into months, I grew in confidence. Getting content done ahead of deadlines. Speaking up more in meetings. Implementing both my ideas and the team’s into posts. It proved my worth and it did not go unnoticed. With my determination to grow and keep developing, I was rewarded with a three-month extension.

You may be asking, what makes GoodWork so special?

I asked myself the same thing before applying. The answer is simple. Every single person here genuinely cares about helping young people. I am young, but I have seen it firsthand. The talented footballer who ends up in prison. The smart kid coasting through life with no guidance. I wanted to be part of something that prevents young people’s lives from drifting. From my first day in the office, which happened to be a hectic Assessment Centre 😅, I was met with support. A team that prioritised getting me up to speed. A team that nurtured me in one of the busiest environments I have worked in. I felt a sense of belonging from minute one, and I have seen firsthand just how different GoodWork is from other workplaces.

I want to thank the team who brought me into this amazing role. Felicity, Marissa, Zoe, Micky, and the brilliant additions who have become accustomed to my constant questions, Yasmin, Sajni, Susan and Rebecca. You genuinely made this experience worthwhile ❤️

Before I sign off, I want to share one final reflection. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that the passions you think are niche are not niche at all. There are people out there who care just as deeply as you do. When you find them, work stops feeling like work and starts feeling like a shared mission. From the assessment centres in my first week, to meeting Cohort 5, the Youth x Employer Engagement Forum, and Cohort 6 outreach, every moment has strengthened my commitment to supporting young people. That passion has only grown stronger.

I’m proud to share that this mission will continue at Football Beyond Borders, where I’ll be joining as a Junior Practitioner, supporting young people from disadvantaged areas who are passionate about football but disengaged from school.

GoodWork has played a huge part in shaping that journey. Thank you for the trust, the opportunities and the belief. And if you are aged 18 to 25, or you know a family member or friend who could benefit from support, please point them towards GoodWork. This mission is bigger than one person, and it is only just getting started…