Charities share £1.3m to improve young people’s employment prospects

Youth Futures Foundation has handed £1.3m in funding to support charities and other organisations looking to improve employment support for marginalised and disadvantaged young people.

Groups of young people being supported include those from ethnic communities, young carers and those with learning difficulties.

This is the second phase in infrastructure funding from the Youth Futures Foundation to boost young people’s employment prospects.

This latest funding award takes the total handed by the Foundation, which has been set up through dormant assets money, to £23.5m

Among the seven organisations to benefit is Carers Trust, which has been handed funding to help young carers find work.

“Carers Trust will be able to convene employers, practitioners and wider stakeholders to build an evidence base of ‘what works’ and drive improvement across the youth employment sector, levelling the playing field for young carers and young adult carers”, said the charity’s head of young careers and young adult carers Vicky Morgan.

Meanwhile, The Ubele Initiative will use its grant to “build and enhance an effective employment support structure for Black and minoritized young people” said the organisation’s director of practice Michael Hamilton.

Action for Race Equality (ACE)’s funding will be used to support Black, Asian and mixed heritage led small organisations within the employment sector.

“A stronger sector will mean more positive opportunities for Black, Asian and mixed-heritage young people including jobs, apprenticeships or work placements,” said ACE chief executive Jeremy Cook.

Improving access to work for young people with learning disabilities and on the autistic spectrum is the focus of funding handed to the charity DFN Project SEARCH.

“Our aim is to improve best practice across the board, showcasing the amazing talent these young adults have, and how policy needs to change to encourage the best form of inclusive recruitment,” said DFN Project SEARCH chief executive Claire Cookson.

Other organisations to be handed funding are Youth Employment UK, London Progression Collaboration and the Employment Related Services Association.

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