St Catharine’s is delighted to announce a new partnership with Turtle Dove Cambridge, a small social enterprise in Cambridge that improves the future of local young women who are (or are at risk of becoming) of not being able to access further education, training or employment due to not having the confidence or experience to pursue these opportunities. By the end of this summer, at least five young women in Years 9–11 will have gained valuable experience with the catering team at St Catharine’s.
Established in 2015, Turtle Dove Cambridge is an experienced provider of work experience and youth support to young women at risk of unemployment due to negative life experiences. Its Alternative Education Programme was set up in February 2020 (and paused due to the pandemic) so that Turtle Dove can provide early intervention and prevention support to younger young women during school hours. The programme has been quality assured by the local County Council and endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality.
Since March 2023, two young women have completed the Turtle Dove Cambridge Alternative Education Programme at St Catharine’s. Another three young women have started in June and will continue at the College over the summer.
Kate Nation, Managing Director at Turtle Dove Cambridge, said:
“I’m on-site throughout the programme at St Catharine’s and it’s been fantastic to see the young women gain the confidence and transferable skills that will enable them to pursue their aspirations, whether that’s further education, employment or even setting up their own business.
“Anxiety is a baseline issue for many of the young women we support, but the openness with which the Catz community discusses mental health has been reassuring and means these young women are able to build up their resilience in a supportive environment.”
Fact file: Challenges facing young women
More young women in the UK are economically inactive and not in employment, education or training (NEET) than young men: 262,000 vs 228,000. (Office for National Statistics)
Young women are more likely to experience anxiety-related conditions than any other group. (Mental Health Foundation)
Out-of-school adolescent girls are at increased risk of pregnancy and gender-based violence. (Save the Children)
Between 8 and 14 years old, girls’ confidence levels drop by 30% compared to their male peers. (A Mighty Girl)
Young women aged 16–24 have been more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to their mental health and employment prospects. (IFS)
One of the young women who has been involved in the partnership said:
"I have enjoyed my time with the team at Catz - it's a really nice place! It is a great opportunity for the young women like me going there with Turtle Dove Cambridge."
Rob Jonas, Catering & Conference Director at St Catharine’s, commented:
“It has been a pleasure to support the young women joining our team and help them develop a mix of practical and transferable skills: from inter-personal skills in the servery and stock management, to working with the pastry chef for one participant with a passion for baking. I hope everyone at St Catharine’s will offer our usual warm welcome if you see any new faces learning the ropes with my team over the summer vacation. I know the young women joining us appreciate your encouragement and are happy to be part of our community.”
Rob Jonas, Catering & Conference Director, with Paula Bishop and Kate Nation from Turtle Dove Cambridge
The partnership between St Catharine’s and Turtle Dove Cambridge was made possible thanks to two existing connections. Kate Nation, Managing Director of Turtle Dove Cambridge, was previously a warden supporting and living on-site with survivors of domestic abuse who lived at St Catharine’s in 2020 as part of the College’s partnership with Cambridge Women’s Aid. Kate also knew Mary Simuyandi, Head of Wellbeing at St Catharine’s, from their previous work together at local charity Romsey Mill, so Mary was able to introduce Kate to the College’s catering team.
“The operational teams at St Catharine’s were instrumental in arranging pop-up accommodation for Cambridge Women’s Aid in 2020 and I am proud that our catering team has found another way for us to support to our local community. As we celebrate 550years since we were founded to honour the patron saint of students and young women, it seems entirely right to be enhancing the education of this group of young women in Years 9–11 through our partnership with Turtle Dove Cambridge.”
The Alternative Education Programme runs alongside Turtle Dove Cambridge’s wider work experience programme, which enables women aged 14–24 years old to gain work experience alongside youth support at a wide range of events across the city: from birthdays and funerals, to AGMs and arts events like a film screening. As of this summer, Turtle Dove Cambridge teams have delivered over 230 local events.
