VIY partners with Impetus to strengthen youth employment pathways

Alongside an initial one-year investment of £100K, VIY will gain access to Impetus’ in-house capacity-building expertise and world-class pro-bono network to help us grow our impact. This partnership comes at a pivotal time for VIY, enabling us to strengthen our programmes for young people and support them in building skills that lead to real employment opportunities.

In the UK, 1 in 8 young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Certain groups are up to three times more likely to face these barriers due to socioeconomic disadvantage, low qualifications, or additional needs. Supporting young people with the right skills, confidence, and opportunities is essential to tackling this challenge.

“Impetus’ new Skills Fund is an exciting opportunity to ensure more young people are equipped to thrive in employment, and we’re thrilled to welcome Volunteer It Yourself to accompany us on this journey. Combining evidence-backed on-the-job training in construction with local regeneration, Volunteer It Yourself’s unique model turns construction projects into opportunities to strengthen communities and develop marketable trade skills. Connecting young people with high-demand sectors will be crucial to solving the NEET crisis.” – Susannah Hardyman MBE, CEO, Impetus

“Volunteer It Yourself’s programme instils a powerful sense of local ownership and personal contribution, while its on-the-job training fills a vital skills gap and offers a crucial first step into a career. We’re excited to work with Volunteer It Yourself to refine their programme and scale their impact for the young people facing the greatest barriers to employment.” – Ben Brodie, Investment Director and Employment Lead, Impetus

“It’s brilliant to be partnering with Impetus at such a pivotal moment for VIY. Their expertise in helping organisations grow their impact aligns with our ambition to strengthen employability pathways for young people. This partnership will allow us to better support learners, especially those aged 16+ and NEET, to successfully progress into apprenticeships and jobs. By combining Impetus’ insight and investment with VIY’s hands-on, community-based approach, we can ensure more young people gain the confidence, skills and pathways they need to succeed.” – Tim Reading, CEO, Volunteer It Yourself

We’re proud to be an Impetus partner, and with their support we are able to refine our programme and make a real difference in helping young people move into meaningful EET (education, employment, or training) outcomes.