This charity supports NEET young people to move into employment or become employment ready.

Grants of up to £10,000 per year are available, with the potential for awards for three years through this fund from The Skinners’ Company.

Education is the charity’s central theme and they particularly (but not exclusively) look to support programmes of work where young people receive a vocational qualification. They look to support projects with a track record of success or where the specific model of work is proven to be successful.

Atwell recognises that disadvantage is complex, experienced as many interlinked challenges. They look to support work that is responding holistically to the needs young people face.

They also recognise that immediate employment may be beyond some young people initially. Where this is not possible, clear progression routes should be evident – such as moving on to further qualifications or through developing clearly employable skills during the project.

They eligibility criteria for the programme is:

• Projects that support NEET young people to move into employment or become employment ready
• Where successful outcomes can be evidenced
• The project is run by an registered not-for-profit organisation, with at least one set of audited or independently examined annual accounts
• The charity’s annual turnover does not exceed £1,000,000

There are also additional desirable priorities around the achievement of a vocational qualification, long-term tracking of beneficiaries and partnership working with other local organisations

Work should be based in England and Wales and priority is given to London and Kent.

Funding is available for specific projects, rather than general organisational costs but they will consider pro-rata staffing and operational costs where appropriate.

Grants will not be awarded for more than the equivalent of 20% of the current annual running costs of the organisation.

The first step for organisations is to email a short outline of their proposed project. If eligible, the funder will be in touch with full details of how to apply.

Applications are considered at Committee meetings twice a year in April and November and application deadlines are approximately 6 weeks in advance of these.

The Skinners’ Company is a philanthropic membership organisation and if an award is made, they aim to partner funded organisations with members of the Company with relevant skills and expertise, to maximise the benefit of their support.

For full details of the fund, visit the Lawrence Atwell Charity webpage.