Funding

The latest stories in this category from the City & Guilds Foundation and our networks.

What we learned about making applications more accessible – for refugee women and for all

What we learned about making applications more accessible – for refugee women and for all

Access to training and learning opportunities is one of the barriers for refugee women with experience of seeking safety to start or progress their professional lives in the UK. This includes financial barriers, as well as other barriers related to accessing education. City & Guilds Foundation have therefore started a partnership with Routes, to support women in accessing opportunities through the City & Guilds bursary. A significant step in overcoming the financial barrier of the...

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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

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

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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Empowering women to enter the construction industry

Empowering women to enter the construction industry

According to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (2023), women represent only 15% of the construction workforce. At the same time, the construction industry is facing a skills shortage suggesting that this crucial source of talent is being under-utilised. Dedicated to addressing this unequal gender balance and providing women with a route into the construction industry, Coleg Gwent – one of Wales’ largest and top-performing higher education colleges – has been working in collaboration...

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Heritage Crafts training bursary for Black and ethnically diverse makers now open!

Heritage Crafts training bursary for Black and ethnically diverse makers now open!

This training bursary is targeted at Black and ethnically diverse makers, as this is an under-represented group in heritage crafts. It is sponsored by the City & Guilds Foundation and is one of a suite of awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate craftspeople. Apply for up to £4,000 to start training in a heritage craft or to further develop your skills. It is still the case that the UK craft sector does not accurately reflect the diversity of the UK as a...

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Big Idea Fund: more funding available to unlock the potential of the UK Prison population, and reduce reoffending

Big Idea Fund: more funding available to unlock the potential of the UK Prison population, and reduce reoffending

The City & Guilds Foundation is pleased to announce that we are inviting expressions of interest for the second round of The Big Idea Fund until 22 June 2023. The Big Idea Fund was the first major initiative of the Foundation’s ambitious Future Skills Commission for Prisons. And since its launch in 2020, we have funded nine pioneering programmes, which are supporting individuals in prison to develop the skills they need to find employment upon release, helping to reduce the risk of...

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Seeing first hand the difference that our funding is making

Seeing first hand the difference that our funding is making

This is a guest post by Dick Palmer, Chair of City & Guilds Foundation and City & Guilds Group Trustee Being Chair of the City & Guilds Foundation is one of the jobs I am most proud of and privileged to undertake. There is so much social need in the world and so many people deserving of our support, so it’s a pleasure to be able to be a tiny part of making a difference – particularly in combating key societal issues through the work that is happening across the Foundation. Whilst...

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

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

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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