Funding

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

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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Funding four exceptional craftspeople through Heritage Crafts bursary

Funding four exceptional craftspeople through Heritage Crafts bursary

by | 2 Oct 2024 | , , ,

We are delighted to announce funding for four exceptional craftspeople through the Heritage Crafts bursary scheme. The City & Guilds Foundation provides up to £4,000 per person to support heritage crafts trainees whose talent might otherwise be lost to the sector were it not for vital additional hands-on training at the start of their career. This round we were happy to fund Ayham Aldoghim, Ziyaad Lorgat, Exauce Mondo, and Marcia Vidal. Ayham Aldoghim, from Bristol, is originally from...

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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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Creating collective impact in the rehabilitation sector

Creating collective impact in the rehabilitation sector

by | 21 Mar 2024 | , , , ,

This is a guest post by Ian Bickers, Founder of Unlocking Justice and member of our Future Skills Commission for Prisons. When the City & Guilds Foundation organised a day bringing together the people they are partnering with in the rehabilitation space, I was delighted to be asked to speak at it and share some of my own learnings from 20 years of working in, and with, prisons. My first impression from the day was the sheer amount of knowledge and experience gathered in the room. From...

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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

by | 30 Jan 2024 | , , , ,

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

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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Empowering women to enter the construction industry

Empowering women to enter the construction industry

by | 11 Oct 2023 | , , ,

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!

by | 17 Jul 2023 | , , , ,

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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