Who are we, and what is our project about?

At Doceo, we’re a social enterprise on a mission to equip 14–18 year olds with the employability and life skills they need to thrive. Founded by Steph and Zoe—two professionals who, like many of our volunteers, know what it’s like to grow up without access to professional networks or financial guidance—we created Doceo to be the resource we wish we had.

This summer, we’re launching a new financial literacy programme to teach young people how to budget, save, and make informed money decisions. It will be completely free and focused on practical, real-life skills that are often missed in school—but essential for adulthood.

Our work supports the Financial Wellbeing funding priority by equipping young people with tools for long-term independence, confidence, and success.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We’re crowdfunding because we’re at a critical moment. The cost of delivering free, high-quality programmes is rising—and like many small social enterprises, we’re facing real challenges with funding.

We’re proud that every penny raised goes straight to benefiting students—whether it’s creating engaging, practical resources or covering travel costs so that no student is left out because they can’t afford the train fare. But without a dedicated funding officer, and with most of our team working full-time jobs alongside Doceo, our biggest challenge is raising money fast enough to meet demand.

That’s why this crowdfunder matters. It helps us keep the programme free and accessible—and it keeps us going until we can build a sustainable core team to secure long-term support.

What drives us? It’s personal. Steph, raised in Surrey Quays by a Ghanaian immigrant mother, didn’t learn the importance of networking and soft skills until university because she lacked access to these opportunities. Zoë, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, only saw how crucial exposure and work experience were after landing her first internship. These gaps inspired us to build Doceo—to give young people the skills and guidance we lacked.

We know what it’s like to feel behind before you’ve even started. And we’re committed to changing that—for good.

How we’ll spend the money raised

We’re aiming to raise £5,000 to cover:

• 📘 Creation of interactive, student-friendly resources – £1,500
• 🚌 Travel bursaries for students from low-income backgrounds – £1,500
• 💼 Programme delivery and trained facilitator time – £1,000
• 📣 Safeguarding, outreach and follow-up support – £1,000

Every pound brings us closer to making this support freely available to the students who need it most.

How you can help

There are three simple ways to support our mission:

1. Make a donation
No amount is too small—every pound helps a student access vital life skills.

2. Spread the word
Share our campaign with your network. The more people who know, the more lives we can reach.

3. Get your workplace involved
If your company champions youth empowerment or financial literacy, they can donate, sponsor students, or match your pledge.