We have given a grant of £25,000 to Construction Youth Trust, to support their skills- and aspiration-building work in Kensington and Chelsea. Our funding will support up to 600 young people attending school in the borough to learn about careers in the construction industry through school presentations from industry experts; one-on-one discussions with apprentices and early career professionals; and employability skills sessions with relatable role models.
The project will also include more intensive training programmes for up to 70 young people identified as being less likely to enter further training or employment beyond school. These will include World of Work programmes, giving 16-18 year olds a taste of careers like engineering, surveying or project management; practical construction projects, for example building a bench for a community garden or painting a youth centre; and bespoke one-to-one mentoring and progression support, including interview coaching, brokering employment opportunities, and support with gaining industry-specific qualifications, to give at-risk young people the best opportunity for success.