We are dedicated to providing support to people facing barriers or disadvantage, allowing individuals to develop their skills for life and work regardless of their background.

Our funding activities include our bursary programme which supports individuals in genuine financial need to access training programmes to upskill, resources to help those in need, and other socially-centred programmes such as pro bono work.

We provide grants and wider support to charities that can deliver innovative, practical skills and employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work.

The programmes we fund are often experimental in nature, and help prove that through taking a creative, targeted approach to widening talent pools and supporting harder to reach groups, we can build a better, fairer, more productive society.

We are currently focused on:

• Helping prisoners gain skills and move into lasting employment on release
• Removing barriers faced by refugees to develop skills and get meaningful work
• Supporting people at Critical Transition Points in their lives and careers

Future Skills Commission for Prisons

A priority theme for The City & Guilds Foundation over the past five years has been supporting the rehabilitation of offenders and former offenders.

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 counter recidivism.

The Foundation is amplifying its work in its area through the launch of The Future Skills Commission for Prisons.

Local Community Skills Fund

The Local Community Skills Fund aims to support a wide range of initiatives that will make a positive impact on communities across the UK.

One key focus is to fund innovative local and community-led projects that may not be eligible for traditional funding sources. This could include anything from setting up a community garden to running a digital skills workshop. The fund also seeks to help disadvantaged people develop the skills they need to find employment by providing training and support.

Additionally, the fund will address specific skills gaps in local areas and reach out to communities where access to training and development opportunities is limited. By working with external organisations, the fund aims to create a sustainable model for delivering social impact through funding and match-funding.

Critical Transition Points

There are points in all our lives where things get difficult, or the future feels unclear and we feel an unsettling lack of control.

For some people, these moments in time can make all the difference to their being able to remain economically active, or resorting to dangerous paths in order to keep afloat.

But with the right support, a successful transition can improve a person’s social, emotional and performance outcomes. Our current projects include helping young people living in areas facing high levels of deprivation to make the transition between school and college; helping women fleeing domestic violence to live and work independently; helping those recovering from addiction to gain employment.

This stream of work is wide ranging and we welcome any ideas on how we can help charities deliver high impact interventions.

Refugee support

Refugee groups have often faced significant trauma, and on arriving in a new country are faced with more barriers. When their basic needs are met, displaced people have the potential to be a rich asset to a society and address skills shortages – whether that’s through using their existing skills or developing new ones.

We are working with charities supporting refugees on the ground, helping them navigate the UK skills system and upskilling or translating skills to meet employer needs and ensure they can gain confidence and work as quickly as possible, and in doing so become financially independent. We are also partnering with UK wide organisations to shift perceptions about what it means to be an education provider or employer of sanctuary for refugees that are highly committed to integrating and contributing to society.

The City & Guilds Foundation is dedicated to recognising and rewarding quality and excellence, promoting the acknowledgement, appreciation and celebration of individuals and organisations who demonstrate commitment and investment in skills development.

Amongst our prestigious awards is the Princess Royal Training Awards which recognises employers who have created outstanding training and skills development programmes resulting in exceptional commercial benefits.