What We Do

Youth Aspirants CIC exists to help young people build the skills, confidence and experience they need to move forward in life.


We support young people aged 16–25, particularly those who may face barriers to education, employment or personal development. Through practical learning, mentoring, work experience and connections with employers and the wider community, we help young people discover their strengths and develop their potential.


Our programmes cover a wide range of skills, from communication, leadership and teamwork to financial literacy, health and wellbeing, digital skills, artificial intelligence, robotics and entrepreneurship.


We believe learning should be practical, relevant and connected to real opportunities. That's why we combine training with hands-on projects, mentoring, employer engagement and ongoing support.


Our goal is simple: to help young people understand their potential, develop their abilities and take confident steps towards their future.

The Vision

A future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.


We believe that every young person has potential — but sometimes the right support, skills or opportunity is needed to unlock it.


Our vision is to foster, train and empower young people across North Northamptonshire, helping them develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills they need to achieve their goals.


We want to help create pathways into employment, education, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and community leadership, while tackling some of the barriers that can hold young people back.


Looking ahead, our ambition is to develop a Future Skills and Innovation Hub where young people can access support in artificial intelligence, robotics, digital technology, business and career development.


Ultimately, we want to contribute to stronger, more resilient communities by giving young people the tools and opportunities to shape their own futures.


We don't just ask, "What can young people do today?"

We ask, "What could they achieve tomorrow?"

Meet our team

The people behind Youth Aspirants

Mary Junaid

Mary Junaid

Director

Mary Junaid is Director of Youth Aspirants CIC, bringing together a diverse background in health and social care, information technology, business analysis and education.

She has extensive experience supporting people with a wide range of needs, including mental health challenges, autism, learning disabilities and other complex needs. Her experience also includes leading teams within children’s residential homes and working with Leicester City Council and Wren Spinney Academy.

Mary holds a range of professional qualifications and certifications, including MCITP, MCSE and MCSA, alongside qualifications in BCS Business Analysis and Data & SQL. She has also undertaken training in Safeguarding and Prevent and is currently working towards a Level 5 qualification in Adult Teaching.

Through her varied professional experience, Mary brings a strong understanding of the challenges that can prevent young people from reaching their potential. At Youth Aspirants CIC, she is passionate about creating opportunities that help young people build confidence, develop practical and digital skills, prepare for employment and take positive steps towards greater independence.

Rachel Junaid

Rachel Junaid

Board Member

Rachel Junaid is a Board Member at Youth Aspirants CIC, bringing experience across healthcare, education, mentoring, community engagement and professional development. She holds a 2:1 undergraduate degree and a Master’s in Pharmacy.

Her experience supporting children and young people began through tutoring with Learning Explorer, where she helped learners across a range of subjects to build their knowledge, confidence and academic skills. She has also served as a Widening Participation Mentor at the University of Birmingham, supporting students and helping to encourage greater access to higher education. During her MPharm studies, she also represented fellow students as a Student Representative at the University of Birmingham.

Rachel has developed a broad clinical background through roles in Leicestershire hospitals, including work in oncology, emergency medicine and diabetes. She currently works as a Senior Pharmacist specialising in Paediatric Pathology, combining specialist healthcare knowledge with an understanding of child development, communication, professional ethics and social responsibility. Alongside her clinical work, she has served as an NHSE Pre-Registration Representative and as a member of an NHFT committee, contributing her professional insight and experience to wider healthcare discussions and development.

Rachel is also committed to community involvement and currently serves as an Ambassador for Northampton Hope Centre, supporting its work within the local community.

At Youth Aspirants CIC, Rachel brings together her experience in healthcare, education, mentoring and community engagement. Her background in supporting and representing young people, together with her commitment to lifelong learning, strengthens the organisation’s ability to provide guidance, encouragement and opportunities that help young people develop confidence, skills and aspirations for the future.

Mary Junaid Jr

Mary Junaid Jr

Board Director

Mary Junaid Jr is a Board Director of Youth Aspirants CIC. She holds a First-Class degree in Optometry from the UK and has a strong academic background, having also achieved highly at A-Level and O-Level.

Mary has experience supporting children and young people through tutoring and academic mentoring. She has worked particularly in Mathematics and Science, helping young people to build their understanding, improve their confidence and develop their academic abilities.

Through this experience, she has developed a strong ability to communicate ideas clearly and explain concepts in ways that are accessible and encouraging for children and young people.

Her background in optometry has also given her valuable skills in science, problem-solving and analytical thinking.

At Youth Aspirants, Mary brings this experience to support the organisation’s work around STEM, digital skills and helping young people progress towards further education, training and employment.

As a Board Director, Mary contributes her knowledge, mentoring experience and enthusiasm for helping young people recognise their abilities and achieve their potential.