Landing your first job is more than a milestone, it’s a launchpad.
Landing your first job is more than a milestone—it’s a launchpad. Research shows that having a paid job during high school is one of the strongest indicators of future employment. That’s exactly why Prescott’s Saturday Job Program was created: to help youth with disabilities gain meaningful early work experience and take confident steps into adulthood.
And it’s working.
This year, 15 young people graduated from the program, each of them building confidence, earning a paycheque, and discovering their own potential.
One of those graduates is Alfie McCarthy, who’s proud of the work he’s done at North End Baking Co. and Pinkie’s Thrift.
“I’m good at working” shared Alfie, “I’m going to get a job and leave home when I graduate. I have big plans”
With a dish-washing job on the horizon, Alfie is already making his next move—proof that the program isn’t just about part-time shifts, but lifelong opportunity.
“I learned how to work safely and do a good job at the Saturday program […] Now I feel ready to work more in the future.”
– Mira, Graduate
Participants build a wide range of skills
Led by instructors Isaiah Doucet and Bria MacDonald, the eight-week program blends practical training with real-world experience. Participants build skills in personal presentation, resume writing, customer service, money handling, and workplace communication. They practise role-playing café and retail scenarios, sort and stock inventory, and learn to navigate the ups and downs of real customer service—always with a supportive job coach nearby.
The feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive—especially when the program transitioned from classroom-style learning to real paid shifts. Since April, students have been working at Prescott’s social enterprises each Saturday, earning wages, showing up on time, learning new tasks, and contributing meaningfully to their teams. “Some needed extra help at first, others jumped right in—but they all grew,” says Isaiah. “And now, they’re not just learning work skills. They are workers.”
Funding extended program’s impact
Support from Getting Everyone Online Nova Scotia (GEO NS) helped extend the program’s reach by providing free Chromebooks and headsets, allowing participants to build digital literacy, apply for jobs, and stay connected to their peers and communities. It’s one more example of how strategic partnerships can enhance inclusion and create real opportunity.
As the program wraps up for this cohort, conversations have already started about summer employment. Many students want to stay on. And their supervisors want them to stay, too.
“They’ve become valued members of the team,” says Bria. “and they’re proving what’s possible when young people are trusted, supported, and given a chance.”
The Saturday Job Program is changing lives—one weekend at a time.
Impact story: This article is featured in the Prescott 2024-2025 Annual Report.