Coach Core Foundation provides inclusive apprenticeships in the sports industry to young people who traditionally experience barriers, discrimination and lack of opportunities.
We’re excited to announce Coach Core Foundation as our newest portfolio partner. Alongside an initial one-year investment of £100K through the Skills Fund, Coach Core will gain access to Impetus' in-house capacity-building expertise and our world-class pro-bono network to help drive their impact.
With over one million young people in the UK not in education, employment, or training (NEET), innovative organisations that provide young people with the skills and support they need to thrive are essential.
“Too many talented young people are locked out of opportunity because of a complicated and inflexible apprenticeship system. Coach Core’s work is helping bridge the gap by connecting young people with supportive employers and high-quality training opportunities which can change the trajectory of their lives. We’re excited to welcome Coach Core to the team.”
Susannah Hardyman MBE, CEO, Impetus
Introducing Coach Core Foundation
Coach Core provides inclusive sports coaching apprenticeships to young people who traditionally experience barriers, discrimination and lack of opportunities. Working with national and local employers across the UK, young people are empowered to step into apprenticeship. In doing so, they create a ripple of positive change in their communities, with over 40% their apprentices living in the top 30% most deprived areas in the UK.
Our Youth Jobs Gap research shows how multiple layers of disadvantage affect young people’s chances of not being in employment, education or training (NEET).
Coach Core’s programme is designed specifically with these young people in mind. Through partnerships with employers and training provider Lifetime Training, apprentices gain a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification alongside tailored one-to-one support, mentorship and practical experience in sports coaching and community settings.
There is clear demand for this work. Small and medium-sized businesses make up 99% of UK businesses yet account for only 37% of apprenticeship starts. Coach Core helps address this mismatch by supporting employers to overcome barriers to taking on apprentices including through grants, recruitment support and ongoing guidance.
“Coach Core’s innovative approach tackles a major gap in the apprenticeship system. By connecting disadvantaged young people with employers, they can invest in local talent and transform communities at the grassroots. Apprenticeships can be transformative for young people facing barriers to work and we’re excited to support Coach Core as they continue to grow their impact.”
Caitlin Ross, Investment Director, Impetus
The Skills Fund
The NEET challenge is complex, stemming from both individual barriers – like low qualifications and socioeconomic disadvantage – and systemic gaps in the infrastructure designed to support young people into work.
Impetus’ ambitious, new Skills Fund aims to tackle these challenges from both sides. We know different young people will require different solutions, so we’re committed to building an evidence base of ‘what works’ in skills provision. From there, we’ll use those insights to inform research, influence policy, and drive systemic change. That begins with working shoulder-to-shoulder with pioneering skills organisations like Coach Core.
"We are privileged and extremely excited for this long-term partnership with Impetus. Knowing how transformative their support has been for peer charities, we enter our new strategy formation and growth plans with absolute confidence. At a time when employment prospects for young people continue to worsen, and their mental health and hope for the future decline alongside them, the Coach Core offer is needed now more than ever. This partnership will enable us to expand our multi-award-winning apprenticeships for marginalised young people while deepening and enhancing the experience they receive on our programmes. As a relatively young charity, we are also energised by the insights and guidance we will receive as we seek to strengthen the organisation and ensure our growth is still firmly anchored in our founding ethos and values. Thank you to the Impetus team for this opportunity – we know this is going to create significant impact for all parties over the coming years!"
Gary Laybourne, CEO, Coach Core Foundation
