Investing in Young People and Strengthening Communities, Team PEEK Attends Where Futures Connect

What happens when young people are given trust, opportunity, and support? Communities change.

Earlier this month, PEEK CEO Michaela, alongside Play Ranger Abbie and Community Workers Billie and Reiss, attended the Where Futures Connect event hosted by Glasgow Futures Employability at Glasgow City Council, an event focused on empowering Scotland’s young people and communities through employment, volunteering, and inclusive pathways into work.

The event highlighted the growing importance of collaboration between employers and communities in creating stronger and more inclusive futures for young people across Glasgow.

At PEEK, we see every day how opportunity can transform lives. In the last 12 months alone, 59 young volunteers have contributed more than 1,600 hours back into their communities, an incredible achievement that reflects the talent, commitment, and potential within our young people.

Michaela attended the event as a keynote speaker, sharing PEEK’s journey to becoming Small Employer of the Year and discussing the powerful role volunteering can play in helping young people transition into positive destinations, including education, training, and employment.

A defining strength of PEEK is our lived-experience workforce model. More than 50% of our staff team are former participants or volunteers who have personally experienced poverty, inequality, or social barriers. This creates trusted relationships within communities while demonstrating our commitment to creating meaningful pathways into leadership, opportunity, and long-term employment.

At PEEK, we also believe supporting people means supporting the whole person and their family. That’s why we introduced miscarriage leave and neonatal care leave before they became legal requirements, recognising the importance of compassion and care during some of life’s most difficult moments.

One of the most powerful moments of the event came from Abbie, who spoke on a panel about her own journey through PEEK.

As a child attending PEEK sessions, Abbie remembered always wanting one of the iconic red hoodies worn by our team. Over time, she became a volunteer, then a seasonal team member, before going to college and exploring a career in nursery teaching. Eventually, she returned to PEEK as a full-time team member, a journey that reflects the power of long-term investment, encouragement, and believing in young people.

Abbie spoke powerfully about her ambitions for the future:

“I feel really positive about my future and want to continue progressing within PEEK, maybe even becoming CEO one day.”

And we absolutely believe in you, Abbie.

Billie also reflected on her first months in the role:

“In my first few months at PEEK, I’ve really enjoyed getting stuck into sessions and building relationships with young people across the community. I’ve learned how important consistency and trust are in youth work, and how much young people value having someone who shows up, listens, and supports them. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow in this role and making a positive impact in many more sessions.”

Events like Where Futures Connect remind us that when organisations invest in people early and create meaningful opportunities, communities grow stronger together.

The future of Glasgow is already here, in the young people stepping forward and leading change within their communities.

Reiss, Michaela, Billie and Abbie, all wearing red, standing in front of a yellow Glasgow Futures display board.