Grants are available for registered charities, social enterprises, colleges and FE providers for projects or activities in the UK that support the development of skills for people 16+ who are facing barriers to move towards or into employment.
The funding 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.
The maximum grant is £10,000. Most grants will be around £6,000.
The Foundation will consider match funding as long as the project and applicant meet the criteria and the amount being asked for is under £10,000.
Applications will be considered from:
- Registered charities with a voluntary income of less than £1 million. If their organisation had income of over £1 million the previous year they will be asked for a matching contribution that will be tailored to their size
- Registered Social Enterprises, with clearly defined asset locks, with an income of less than £1 million.
- Colleges, FE providers and other City & Guilds customers, where the proposals are clearly additive to existing funding.
- Individuals and community groups, but only instances where they have a supporting organisation that is willing to act as the recipient of funds and meets one of the criteria above (for example a local college, Scout Group, charity etc.)
- Charitable foundations of relevant for-profit companies where a project meets the stated objectives of the fund and meets the criteria.
Eligible Expenditure
Funding for projects that are:
- Seeking funding for projects or activities that will be delivered in the UK.
- Supporting people 16+ who are facing barriers.
- Supporting the development of skills required to move towards or into employment.
Projects will also be viewed positively if they address any of the following:
- People with convictions, young people at risk of offending, refugees and displaced people, neurodiverse learners and lower socio-economic groups.
- Can evidence that they are addressing local skills gaps and/or directly link to job outcomes.
- Are in a community or region of defined social need (Indices of Multiple Deprivation, DofE cold spots).
How To Apply
The Foundation aims to open Expressions of Interest at regular intervals throughout the year and will review submissions on a regular basis.
The current window is open for Expressions of Interest until 16 February 2025. Please note the fund may close early due to demand.
There is a two stage application process:
- The first step is to submit an Expression of Interest. Applicants will need to register an account to access the online EoI form. Once the form is submitted, they should hear back within 10 working days.
- Those who are successful will invited to submit a full application.
- Most applicants will know if they are successful in being awarded a grant within two months of starting an EoI.
Due to the volume of applications, the City & Guilds Foundation is not able to provide feedback to individual applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed via email.
Guidelines and the Expression of Interest form can be found on the Foundation’s website.
