The regions - introducing just a few of our new charities in 2024
This year we have funded 12 new regional and local charities, extending our reach through Scotland, Wales and England, taking in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands and London areas.
The five charities highlighted below received the first instalment of their funding in June. We will provide further updates as these projects develop over the next 12 months.
All the charities that CABWI funds have met our criteria and embrace our key theme - enabling disadvantaged young people and adults to gain additional skills, qualifications and confidence to enter the labour market.
Berkshire Vision - Eyes on Our Futures (SE Region)
Eyes on Our Futures is Berkshire Vision’s employability programme for visually impaired people who are seeking to enter or re-enter paid employment, or who wish to take up training or education opportunities.
Participants are supported to develop their own journey plan incorporating their current circumstances, where they would like to be, potential barriers, and how they can achieve their goals.
The programme helps participants learn to communicate with confidence, develop independence, and increase their employability through one-to-one guidance and group workshops covering topics such as CV writing, interview skills and how to discuss their disability with employers.
For more information: https://berkshirevision.org.uk
Foundation Futures (NE Region)
Byker Wall Estate is a unique, self contained social housing estate in the east end of Newcastle. It is in the bottom 1% on the government's Index of Multiple Deprivation. Almost all social spaces have been closed over the last 15 years and there are very limited opportunities for young people.
Foundation Futures moved into a small space on the estate in 2017, sadly this was converted into an accessible flat and we had to move from there in 2020 to an even smaller hobby room. However, we have continued our vital work with children, young people and their families during very difficult times.
CABWI funding will enable us to support 20 young people move closer to the employment market and into work. School exclusions and school refusals are high on the estate and educational outcomes are lower than average.
It is our experience that young people want to work, are desperate to build fulfilling and positive lives for themselves and their families but encounter numerous barriers to learning and employment. By building unique, long term relationships we are in a great position to help them clear these hurdles and access the support and engagement with employers they need. We are really excited about the positive changes this funding will bring to young people on the estate.
For more information: https://www.foundationfutures.co.uk/
YoMo- Young Movers (Scotland)
YoMo- Young Movers is a youth empowerment charity in Glasgow. We have piloted a Cycle and Employability program for 16 to 25 year olds with good success and thanks to funding from CABWI, we can now offer the program more regularly.
The program is for young people looking to learn additional practical skills while increasing their employability – both school leavers and older young people facing barriers to employment.
The project increases young people’s cycling knowledge and skills through learning how to fix and build a bike as well as cycle leader skills. For example young people learn how to map a cycle route, lead a community cycling and how to fix and maintain bikes.
Our beneficiaries will gain SQA qualifications in employability and cycling, plus a cycle leader qualification. The program takes a youth work approach, supporting young people from their starting point and our staff work closely with young people to break down any barriers/ disadvantage. We feel sure that our approach works; it results in a high level of completion and achievement of the qualifications, which adds up to positive outcomes for our youngsters.
For more information: https://www.yomo-online.co.uk/
Young and Inspired (London)
Trade Secrets explores the barriers young adults face and provides them with customized tricks tailored to their learning and language needs. Our program is designed to empower participants by equipping them with practical skills and personalized support to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship prospects.
Through our "Back to Front Apprentice Learning" model, participants gain hands-on experience in real work environments while enrolling in customized, accessible accredited courses. These courses are specifically tailored to develop transferable skills, ensuring our participants are well-prepared for a successful future.
For more information: https://www.youngandinspired.org.uk/
Sight for Life (Wales)
Sight Life offers practical support and advice to anyone with limited sight in South Wales.
We are delighted to have secured funding from CABWI.
Research shows that only 1 in 4 people with sight loss have employment. Of these, 1 in 3 people with vision impairment did not gain quality employment, despite achieving qualifications in line with the general population.
Our project looks to provide younger people with sight loss with a quality work experience opportunity and to develop the self-advocacy and wider skills that will help them with recruitment and workplace fulfilment.
For more information: https://sightlife.wales