Polly Rowe

Polly Rowe

Senior Impact, Programme and Engagement Manager

“Pol-ee Row”  she/her

Polly works across all of our Foundation programmes, but with a particular focus on our grant giving work and measuring our social impact.

She is particularly passionate about rehabilitating ex-offenders, bursaries and impact.

Polly is extremely organised, and has experience in communications and building good relationships.

When she’s not at work, Polly enjoys spending time with her family and ferrying her daughter from various clubs and activities!

relator | maximizer | activator | communication | strategic

The latest stories from Polly Rowe on the City & Guilds Foundation website:

Inspiration and innovation at HMP Pentonville with XO Bikes

Inspiration and innovation at HMP Pentonville with XO Bikes

by | 9 Oct 2024 | , , , , , , , ,

Since we created the City & Guilds Foundation in 2019, one of our key funding activities has been identifying and activating practical ways to support those who have been in Prison (or at risk of entering Prison) to build skills and secure, and sustain, employment. We know that there is a recognised and agreed need to reduce reoffending, and evidence shows that upskilling prisoners, together with stable accommodation and support is the most effective way to recidivism. Our £1m Big Idea...

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Green Start: A transformative programme continuing to empower ex-offenders from Groundwork

Green Start: A transformative programme continuing to empower ex-offenders from Groundwork

by | 21 Jun 2024 | , , , ,

Last year, we reported on the inspiring work being carried out by Groundwork, a UK-wide alliance of charities that brings communities together to tackle poverty and environmental challenges. Committed to creating opportunities for all, they launched their Green Start programme in 2021 in partnership with the City & Guilds Foundation to equip prison leavers with construction, carbon literacy and green skills. The programme has exceeded expectations, with positive prisoner outcomes, a...

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Improving young refugees’ educational outcomes through our partnership with the Positive Youth Foundation

Improving young refugees’ educational outcomes through our partnership with the Positive Youth Foundation

by | 29 Jan 2024 | , , , , ,

At the City & Guilds Foundation we’re passionate about advocating for, and supporting, people who face barriers to accessing skills development. Two years ago, we looked at supporting refugees as a beneficiary group – and have supported a number of different grass root charities in the UK who are making a quantifiable impact on many lives within refugee and migrant communities. One such organisation that we are proud to support is the Positive Youth Foundation (PYF) based in Coventry....

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Big Idea Fund: Five new projects awarded funding to unlock potential and support rehabilitation

Big Idea Fund: Five new projects awarded funding to unlock potential and support rehabilitation

by | 8 Nov 2023 | , , ,

Back in June we announced that we were inviting expressions of interest for the second round of our Big Idea Fund. The £1m Big Idea Fund was established in 2019 as the first major initiative of our Foundation, to support prisoners with upskilling to aid their rehabilitation on release. Following an initial shortlist, 11 projects out of 37 applications were invited to submit a full application which was scored by our Commissioner Panel which includes City & Guilds Chief Executive, Kirstie...

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Improving ex-offenders’ prospects through Groundwork’s ‘Green Start’ programme

Improving ex-offenders’ prospects through Groundwork’s ‘Green Start’ programme

by | 26 May 2023 | , , ,

Groundwork is a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK. Dedicated to supporting communities and creating a green future, they aim to improve people’s prospects and promote opportunities for everyone, whatever their background or circumstances. As part of Groundwork’s commitment to enhancing opportunities for employability, back in 2021 they launched their ‘Green Start’ programme, in partnership with us at the City & Guilds...

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Celebrating skills development, in Prison, to support rehabilitation, on release

Celebrating skills development, in Prison, to support rehabilitation, on release

by | 12 May 2023 | , , ,

For nearly four years now we have endeavoured, through our Foundation, to identify and activate practical ways for offenders to build skills and gain a job upon release. Reoffending costs approximately £18.1bn every year in England, and evidence shows that upskilling prisoners to gain sustainable employment upon release, together with stable accommodation and support, is the most effective way to counter reoffending. As part of our Future Skills Commission for Prisons, we have now funded eight...

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City & Guilds Foundation funds Breakthrough to support prison leavers into apprenticeships in innovative new partnership

City & Guilds Foundation funds Breakthrough to support prison leavers into apprenticeships in innovative new partnership

by | 8 Feb 2023 | , ,

The City & Guilds Foundation and Breakthrough, the UK’s first apprenticeship provider to recruit directly from prisons, have entered a new partnership to support prison leavers into employment. Founded in March 2020, Breakthrough was the first charity to focus on delivering pre-apprenticeship training in prison and technology apprenticeships on release. And for the first time, from October 2022 the government has allowed prisoners to start apprenticeships in prison – this could be...

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