Skills for

Norfolk

Skills for work,

skills for life.

Providing life-changing skills and opportunities

£ 0 +
STEM funding delivered in 2023
STEM funding delivered in 2023
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young people upskilled in STEM subjects in 2023
young people upskilled in STEM subjects in 2023
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bursaries awarded
bursaries awarded
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vocational skills projects funded
vocational skills projects funded

“I cannot thank The Norfolk Community Foundation for the support they offered me throughout the duration of my Arkwright Scholarship. I have no doubt this has been instrumental in my successes to date, and has facilitated my route into my current role at Jaguar Land Rover.”

Connor, Arkwright Engineering Scholar
Jack working on a moped in Kickstart's garage

“Leaving school was a daunting prospect as I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was so pleased when leading up to the end of my Apprenticeship, Kickstart offered me a job as a Junior Technician. I am now at work really enjoying my new job, and am looking forward to the next few years as I will be trained to become an MOT tester and also to become a mobile technician.”

Jack, Kickstart Mechanic

“I have often looked to Norfolk Community Foundation for ideas and assistance to provide additional, locally delivered support for people, who for a number of reasons, have found it difficult to engage with, or complete, mainstream employability and skills programmes.”

Julia Nix, East Anglia District Manager for the Department for Work and Pensions

Did you know…

Norfolk has it’s challenges when it comes to skills and employment:

  • Wages are lower than the rest of the region.
  • Fewer people are achieving degrees and more leaving education with no qualifications than elsewhere in the East of England.
  • Higher numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the county.

What’s the solution?

Local charities are perfectly positioned to address the skills shortage, equipping young people for success and tackling barriers to employment. Building skills and aspirations for people of all ages helps to enrich our lives and enable us to flourish at work, at home and in the community. Overcoming obstacles to engage with education and move towards employment can transform lives, particularly for those who face personal challenges and struggle to thrive in mainstream settings.

How are we helping?

Providing access to lifelong learning and helping to connect us with our communities and the people around us is key to unlocking skills and opportunities for people in Norfolk. We’re doing this by supporting a range of projects, including:

  • Helping young people access employment through real-life work placements.
  • Providing advice and support to help people navigate the journey to employment, from writing CVs to being interviewed.
  • Improving child literacy in Norfolk.