Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are twice as likely to not be in education, employment or training than their better-off peers, with long-term consequences for their employability, confidence and earning.
Over our 14-year partnership, Resurgo has grown from a small west London project to an employment charity with 17 centres nationwide. Their Spear programme delivers a 17% reduction in young people’s likelihood of being NEET, with sustained effects for two years.
Resurgo helped Impetus pioneer our approach to impact: they were the first portfolio partner to pilot our ‘Driving Impact' methodology to define their growth model, refine their programme for impact, and build an impact infrastructure.
Resurgo was also the first employment charity in the UK to undergo a positive evaluation by the Department of Work and Pensions Data Lab, which demonstrated that their programme delivered a 17% reduction in the likelihood of young people being out of education, employment, or training (NEET) with these effects sustained for two years.
This means that Resurgo's programmes are not only effective in the short term, but also have a lasting positive impact on their participants' employability and life outcomes.
Since 2010, we have invested a total of £2.7 million in direct grants, £1.3 million in co-investment, £1.1 million in leveraged funding through introductions and support applications, and £1.4 million in pro bono support.
Through the expertise of our dedicated Investment team, we supported Resurgo with leadership coaching, strategy development, impact measurement and sustainability planning.
| Upon entry in 2010 | 2022/23 (Compound annual growth rate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | £1.1m | £3.8m (17%) |
| Reach | 180 | 1,052 (15%) |
None of this work would have been possible without the support of our wonderful donors and their commitment to deep, lasting partnerships with Impetus and our partner organisations – providing not just funding but practical and strategic guidance through their pro bono networks.
During our our 14-year partnership we worked with a number of organisations to support Resurgo, including: Bain, CD&R, Drapers, Dulverton Trust, Eden McCallum, EPIC Foundation, Fidelity, GIC, Kirkland and Ellis, Leonie Schroder, Maria Marina, Montpellier, PwC, Rayne Foundation, State Street, Tavistock, TowerBrook, and Tuxien Foundation.
Examples of pro bono projects:
I am so grateful for Impetus' investment in Resurgo's leadership, growth, and quality of impact, and for how they have served as a trusted sounding board and partner over the years. Nearly 15 years since first joining Impetus' portfolio, we're now excited to be part of the alumni network, alongside other impressive organisations supporting young people to overcome the barriers they face and step into brighter futures.
I didn't think I would have the opportunities I have now, specifically my role at Homebase involves working on the till, so serving customers. That's a part of retail I really enjoy working in, get a sense of pride. I was shy kid, never spoke up in school, never confident in speaking. Spear gave me the confidence I needed to speak to people, to communicate effectively.
Being in work has been the most amazing time. Starting out I was nervous, because I had been out of work for a few months and whilst on Spear I was getting interviews and job trials, and honestly I'm so thankful and grateful for the opportunities that Spear has given me.
