You can continue to submit referrals which will be considered for our September 2025 intake.

Luminary provides training, employment and community to women who have been classified as experiencing "multiple disadvantage", including gender based violence.

By enrolling on our 24-month programme women will have a safe and trauma informed space to train, alongside holistic one-to-one support from an allocated Luminary support worker, reaching their employment goals and gaining independence.

Please see an outline for each of the four phases of our programme below and download our Programme flyer for a flowchart of the Luminary Employability Journey.

To be considered for the programme, we require a referral from a professional who is currently working with the applicant alongside the trainee application. All eligible applicants will also need to attend an informal interview for one of our 28 spaces.

Applying for this programme is a commitment to finding employment and gaining independence: attendance is incredibly important. Please bear this in mind when applying and making referrals.

We take new intakes every 6 months

PHASE 1: 6 MONTHS

Trainees will:

• Learn to bake to a high level, ready for a professional kitchen
• Complete their Level 2 in Food Hygiene for Catering
• Participate in Holistic Self Development Sessions
• Receive personal support from a Luminary support worker

Training sessions:

• 1 day per week with a maximum of 7 or 8 women in each cohort (no childcare is available, this will need to be organised before starting training)
• Travel can be reimbursed up to a certain amount depending on London Travel Zones with a valid receipt. This amount will be agreed before training commences.

PHASE 2: 6 MONTHS

Trainees will then go on to Employability and Independence workshops alongside looking for paid work, participating in work experience and one-to-one support. Trainees will become a Graduate at the end of Phase 2. Graduation ceremonies are held every summer.

Trainees will:

• Participate in employability workshops for half a day per week
• Participate in holistic support and 1-1’s to pursue employment and independence goals
• Receive personal support from a Luminary support worker

Training sessions:

• 1 group session per week for 2.5 hours with (no childcare is available, this will need to be organised)
• Travel will continue to be reimbursed with a valid receipt

PHASE 3: 6 MONTHS

Graduates will continue to get one-to-one support from Luminary Support Workers alongside sessions with professional mentors. They will work through helpful resources and specific topics and tasks to help each woman reach her goals and secure work.

• Attend one of our Taster Workshops. Each term Luminary hosts a taster workshop at our training site in Camden for referral partners and eligible women interested in applying for our programme.
• Invite Luminary to your service to speak to your team or service users about the programme.
• Send us a question or request a phone call to discuss referral pathways and eligibility.

Email us on referrals@luminarybakery.com for all of the above and request to be added to our Referral Partners Mailing List for updates about programme recruitment, Taster Workshops and more.