Rising absence rates put Government target to halve attainment gap at risk
At the current levels of persistent and severe absence, over 600,000 young people are on track to miss out on crucial GCSEs.
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More than one million young people are not in employment or full-time education, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are twice as likely as their better-off peers to not be in education, employment or training (NEET).
As part of our efforts to help close this gap, we are excited to announce that our 2026 Skills Grant Round is now open for applications.
What we offer
The successful organisation will join our portfolio and receive a unique package of support, including:
- £100,000 in core, unrestricted funding for an initial one-year period
- Hands-on strategic support from our Investment Team to help build organisational capacity
- Access to pro bono experts in fields like financial modelling, legal, and marketing
- Membership in our peer learning forums alongside more than 20 other high-impact portfolio partners
Who should apply?
We are looking for UK-registered non-profits that:
- Seek to support young people (age 16-24) who are NEET and from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Deliver work-related skills (either vocational or essential)
- Aim for employment outcomes for those young people
How you can help
Do you know an organisation that fits this profile and is ready to scale its impact? Please share this opportunity with your network or direct them to our Expression of Interest (EOI) form. The deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on Monday 15 June 2026.
For full details on eligibility and the application process, please visit our grant round page.
