Two London charities which provide opportunities for young people received a much-needed financial boost this month from a new fund aiming to improve skills and training in communities across the UK.
Sports Fun 4 All, which works to improve the lives of children and young people in disadvantaged communities in South London, and 4DGI Music, which provides skills training and employability support for young Black residents of Hackney at risk of disengagement, received grants totalling £20,000 from the Local Community Skills Fund.
The pilot scheme, launched by the City & Guilds Foundation earlier this year, has now awarded over £144,000 in grants to twenty charities, social enterprises and training providers across the UK.
Through this support, the Fund aims to positively impact communities where access to training and development are limited.
The Local Community Skills Fund complements established City & Guilds grant giving schemes, including dedicated funding streams for frontline charities supporting individuals with convictions and displaced people to gain skills and find meaningful employment, together with a longstanding bursary scheme to help individuals facing barriers to gain the skills society needs.
City & Guilds’ latest Impact Report revealed that £15.3 billion in social and economic returns was contributed to society in the UK via access to skills through its courses in the period 2023-24.
Kieran Connolly, Founder and CEO of Sports Fun 4 All, said:
“The funding from City & Guilds will allow us to continue the delivery of our Sports Fun 4 All’s Sports Development Programme which provides structured employability pathways through sport for young people aged 16+ who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET).”
