VIY continues growth thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and The Considered Ask

We’re delighted to receive a grant of £225,000 from Innovation Trust,  thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

This funding comes off the back of a successful three years of growth for VIY, thanks to our initial grant of £145,000 from the Postcode Innovation Trust, alongside our wide range of cross-sector partners. This approach has allowed us to grow at scale nationally, deepening our recruitment, training and retention of trade mentors across multiple hub regions, and ultimately deliver strong local impact, through the mentoring of local young people, whilst renovating community places and spaces through the power of volunteering.

Over the next three years, this continued investment thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery will allow VIY to build our capacity and capability to:

1. undertake projects involving the retrofit of community buildings for improved energy-efficiency and reduced environmental impact 
2. offer our learners the chance to develop new green construction skills and gain green skills accreditations/qualifications
3. help to develop skills and employment pathways for young people after their VIY experience

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “I’m delighted that money raised by our players is allowing young people all over Britain the opportunity to gain new skills while improving places that are important to their local communities. It’s a win for the young people getting involved who are learning a trade, and a win for spaces in need of essential repairs and improvement.”

We’re also beginning a new national partnership this year with The Considered Ask, a community of funders that exists to reduce social inequality in the UK. Their grant of £80,000 will be helping us to expand our further skills and employment support for VIY’s young learners across two years, ultimately boosting the employability and life chances of more NEET and at risk young people. 

Our progressions support is centered around helping young people into further training and/or employment following their VIY experience, working in closer partnership with our national and employer partners to do so, predominantly in the trade/construction industry.

The Considered Ask said: “We’re excited to be partnering with VIY and we’re delighted to provide funding to help expand the progressions team, so that young people can receive extra support with taking their next steps into training and employment.”

VIY expands work across Redditch and Bromsgrove until 2025

We’re delighted to be renovating twelve community spaces across Redditch and Bromsgrove between 2023-25, thanks to part-funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, in partnership with Redditch & Bromsgrove councils.

The first project in our new programme saw us and 10 local young people repurpose a brand new space for Reach CIC in Redditch in December 2023, a community-focused organisation based in the Winyates Centre, co-funded by our Trade Partners Toolstation and Travis Perkins Plc. Our first project in Bromsgrove saw us redecorate Wythall Hall to help them attract local people to use and hire the space to create a financially sustainable community space.

Upcoming projects include improvements to The Meeting Rooms in Woodrow, Redditch, a vital community centre for the local community, and creating a functional and attractive outdoor space at Shawfields, supporting those at the Bromsgrove District Housing Trust.

More in The Redditch Standard here

Know of young people 16+ who would benefit from the VIY experience here?

Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “This initiative goes beyond bricks and mortar; it is about providing a pathway to success for those who need it most. It will bring positive change and unlock opportunities for local young people as well as injecting new life into our community spaces for everyone to enjoy. This scheme is testament to what can be achieved and when communities come together with support from Government initiatives like UKSPF. I hope that the extra funding allows VIY to have continued success, expanding on excellent projects like W.I.S.E.”

Deputy Leader of Bromsgrove District Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Cllr Sue Baxter, said: “VIY have already seen huge success with previous projects in Redditch and I am very pleased that, as a result of the UKSPF funding, they have started to deliver similar projects across Bromsgrove District too. This scheme will not only make our community spaces better but will also help young people learn important skills for work, investing in their future. It’s turning empty places into something useful, creating jobs, and making our area better for everyone, which is excellent news all round.”

Projects will be match-funded by other VIY partners such as Sport England and Toolstation, who are a large local employer in the area through their Redditch Distribution Centre, and supported with materials donated by Trade Partners including Dulux.

Nominate a project (with necessary permission to complete renovation works before March 2025)

Local tradesperson interested in helping out?

About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus