Young London residents to benefit from £¼ million in grants to support education and employment
First round of funding from City & Guilds’ Transitions Commission targeting local challenges in areas of deprivation and economic inactivity in the UK
Newly-founded commission awards grants totalling £247,000 to three London organizations to help young people transition into further education and work
250 at-risk young people in London to receive intensive, tailored support
1 million young people are not in education, employment or training, the highest level for more than a decade
City & Guilds Foundation’s Transitions Commission has completed its first round of grant funding, providing support of £247,000 to three London-based organisations helping young people to transition successfully into further education and employment.
The commission was established earlier this year to provide funding to organisations that support young people at risk of falling out of education, training or employment, targeting local challenges in areas of deprivation and economic inactivity in the UK.
Its first round of grant giving aims to tackle comparatively high levels of unemployment (14.6%) among young Londoners relative to other age groups and young people in the rest of England. Across the UK, nearly a million young people are not in education, employment or training, the highest level for more than a decade.
The commission granted £75,000 to fund Construction Youth Trust Building Opportunities, a two-year pilot supporting at-risk young people with early intervention in school (Year 10 & 11) providing mentoring, workplace exposure and one-to-one coaching to improve transitions into further education for 75 individuals.
New Futures HQ, an employability and wellbeing programme designed by Hackney Quest, was granted £92,000 funding to support young people aged 14-25 with barriers including trauma, poverty, exclusion and poor mental health. The programme will improve opportunities for 75 individuals through mentoring, accredited skills and practical support.
The Horizons Youth Project for the Environment (HyPE), designed by Voyage Youth, was granted £80,000 to deliver a job club and renewable energy training programme for 16–21-year-olds at risk of offending, exploitation or disengagement. The project will provide mentored training, personal development workshops and work experience, supporting 100 individuals to re-enter education and community life.
The commission complements existing and well-established City & Guilds Foundation grant-giving schemes. Earlier this year, the Foundation launched the Local Community Skills Fund to support a wide range of initiatives to boost skills in communities across the UK.
Laura Jane Rawlings, Chair of The Transition Commission, said:
“Supporting vulnerable young people to successfully transition into training and employment is critical for a positive future.
The commission’s support of these three innovative programmes is a significant first step towards our goal of ensuring that everyone is able to realise their potential, while generating learnings that are useful to the whole sector.”
Junior Smart OBE, Founder of SOS Gangs Project and Fellow of City & Guilds, said:
“The Transition Commission’s funding for these three frontline projects will positively impact upon communities, and help prevent young people from becoming marginalised or excluded, which can have devastating consequences. Everyone can succeed and contribute to society with the right training and support.”
