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Funding

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

Co-opā€™s Levy Share to support UKā€™s first Prisoner Apprenticeship programme to address rail skill shortages and reduce reoffending

Co-opā€™s Levy Share to support UKā€™s first Prisoner Apprenticeship programme to address rail skill shortages and reduce reoffending

by | 29 Jul 2025 | , , , ,

In a first, Co-op and City & Guilds partner to address reoffending and rail skills shortages with guaranteed employment pathways. Co-op to offer a dedicated levy share service to support apprenticeships for serving prisoners whoā€™ll go on to work in the rail sector. The Level 2 Rail Engineering operative apprenticeships will be based at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk delivering vital hands-on training for the UK rail sector. Reoffending costs the UK economy over Ā£21bn a yearā€”this initiative aims...

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Listen. Learn. Support. What Refugee Week Reminds Us about Community

Listen. Learn. Support. What Refugee Week Reminds Us about Community

by | 23 Jun 2025 | , , , , , , , ,

At City & Guilds, we believe in the life-changing power of skills. But we also know that skills alone arenā€™t always enough to help people succeed. Thatā€™s why, through the City & Guilds Foundation weā€™ve been working with grassroots charities and partners since 2022 to help refugees and displaced people access training, build confidence, and find meaningful work. Hereā€™s a little bit about  the impact weā€™re making. Since launching our Displaced People Fund in 2022, weā€™ve: Supported...

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City & Guilds Foundation grants much-needed funding to 20 charities aiming to boost skills and training across the UK

City & Guilds Foundation grants much-needed funding to 20 charities aiming to boost skills and training across the UK

by | 16 Apr 2025 | , , ,

Charities, social enterprises and training providers in the UK and Northern Ireland benefit from small grants of up to Ā£10,000 set to make a big difference to communities New skills initiative supporting organisations working to improve access to skills and development Launched as a pilot scheme in January of this year, the Local Community Skills Fund has now awarded a total of Ā£144108 in grants of up to Ā£10,000 to twenty charities, social enterprises and training providers across the UK....

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City & Guilds launches new Commission to tackle surge in youth unemployment Ā Ā 

City & Guilds launches new Commission to tackle surge in youth unemployment Ā Ā 

by | 24 Mar 2025 | , , ,

City & Guilds commit Ā£500,000 in funding to target local challenges in areas of deprivation and economic inactivity in the UK  New Transitions Commission announced to support more young people into Further Education  1 million young people are not in education, employment or training, the highest level for more than a decade  City & Guilds Foundation have established a new commission to address the high volume of youth unemployment in the UK.  The Transitions...

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Celebrating the achievements of young people with Positive Youth Foundation

Celebrating the achievements of young people with Positive Youth Foundation

by | 21 Jan 2025 | , , , , ,

It was an absolute honour last week to address the graduating cohort from Positive Youth Foundation - a day brimming with celebration, inspiration, and pride. For those not familiar, Positive Youth Foundation (PYF) supports newly arrived young people to the UK, aged 16-25, in Coventry. Initially established in 2011 as a youth charity to support young people in the city, in 2015 PYF created its Involved Programme to support the integration of newly arrived refugee and asylum-seeking young...

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New Local Community Skills Fund to empower UK communities through skills and training

New Local Community Skills Fund to empower UK communities through skills and training

by | 16 Jan 2025 | , , , ,

Grants of up to Ā£10,000 available for UK Charities, Social Enterprises and Training Providers. City & Guilds Foundation has launched a pilot scheme to help fund initiatives designed to boost employment, skills and development in communities across the UK. As part of the Foundationā€™s drive to support innovative local projects, the Local Community Skills Fund aims to boost community-led initiatives which may not be eligible for funding from traditional sources. The Fund will tackle skills...

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Funding for makers: Applications for QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) Grants open until 10 Feb

Funding for makers: Applications for QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) Grants open until 10 Feb

by | 9 Jan 2025 | , , ,

Sustaining vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts QEST offers three grants to support makers and conservators at various career stages. Grants are available for education and training, with Scholarships of up to Ā£18,000, Emerging Maker grants of up to Ā£10,000, and up to Ā£12,000 towards an apprenticeā€™s salary. Since their founding in 1990, QEST have awarded Ā£7 million to almost 900 individuals working across a broad range of disciplines including in glassblowing, thatching, guitar...

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Changing Lives, Changing Industries: HMP Highpoint’s groundbreaking rail training

Changing Lives, Changing Industries: HMP Highpoint’s groundbreaking rail training

by | 5 Dec 2024 | , ,

Around two weeks ago, we had the privilege of attending HMP Highpoint to see the opening of the first ever rail centre of excellence in prison, which back in 2022 we provided funding for installation of a rail track so that industry-standard training could be delivered to the men inside. We talk a lot in the City & Guilds Foundation about our role in removing barriers for people to gain skills and opportunities. But in seeing the incredible facilities ā€“ a pipe dream less than two and a...

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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 Ā£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 Ā£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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