VIY secures funding from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver Community Retrofit programme

The funding forms part of more than £6.5 million awarded across York and North Yorkshire to support innovative projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the region move towards its ambition of becoming England’s first carbon negative region by 2040. The programme sits within the wider Carbon Negative Challenge Fund delivered by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Programme overview

The Community Retrofit Demonstrator projects will:

• Improve energy efficiency in community buildings through retrofit works
• Provide hands-on green skills training, mentoring and qualifications for young people
• Upskill local tradespeople in retrofit and sustainable construction
• Engage over 1,000 local residents through open days and workshops

First project completed in Scarborough

The first project has now been completed at Betton Farm, Scarborough where a workshop barn was upgraded with:

• Roof insulation improvements
• Thermal upgrades to reduce heat loss
• Internal refurbishment to improve functionality and comfort

Community open day

As part of the project, VIY also hosted its first community retrofit open day at Betton Farm, which welcomed 59 attendees, including industry guests, local residents and trade partners. Special guest Katy Robinson, UK’s Most Influential Woman in Construction (CITB), also attended, see what she had to say about her visit at Betton Farm here.

People took part in tours, discussions and a retrofit survey, with most saying they left feeling more informed about retrofit and its benefits. It was a really positive sign of growing interest and understanding around greener buildings.

Empowering young people with green skills and qualifications

We’ve had 20 young people take part in the first Retrofit Demonstrator project at Betton Farm, referred by North Yorkshire Council, Scarborough TEC, Supporting Choice and the Youth Justice Service.

They’ve been learning practical retrofit skills, including working with insulation, with most working towards City & Guilds and NOCN accreditations.

A core aim of the programme is to help young people build the skills they need as the UK moves towards a lower-carbon future.

Building on wider retrofit work

The North Yorkshire programme builds on VIY’s growing national portfolio of retrofit and regeneration projects, including previous work supported by initiatives such as the Hornsea 3 Community Fund in Norfolk, and community refurbishment projects across Bristol and the South West.

In Bristol, VIY has been supported by the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund, a partnership working to accelerate low-carbon infrastructure and help the city reach net zero. As part of this work, we’re developing multiple community retrofit projects with partners including Bristol Energy Network, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and the West of England Combined Authority.

Across all of this work, the focus stays the same: improving community spaces so they’re warmer, cheaper to run and better for the environment, while giving young people real, practical skills they can build a future on.

We’re excited to deliver this programme and build on the momentum already created. With more projects to come across North Yorkshire and beyond, there’s plenty more to look forward to.

➡️ If you’d like to find out more or talk about working with VIY on retrofit, get it touch with our Retrofit and Green Skills Director at tom@teamviy.com.

VIY partners with MVT to support grassroots music venues

We’re proud to be partnering with MVT to launch Stay The Night and Feel At Home, two programmes of capital improvements in grassroots music venues across the UK. Funded by the grassroots levy, a £1 contribution per ticket on shows over 5,000 capacity, distributed by the LIVE Trust, these programmes are about practical, on-the-ground improvements where they matter most.

• Stay The Night transforms underused venue space into artist accommodation, helping reduce touring costs and easing one of the biggest financial pressures facing live music today.
• Feel At Home upgrades backstage spaces so artists arrive somewhere that’s welcoming, functional, and ready to support them.

This isn’t just about improving buildings – it’s about improving the conditions artists work in, making touring healthier, fairer and more sustainable. At the same time, the projects support NEET and at-risk young people to learn hands-on trade skills and boost their employability skills.

These are not grant schemes and venues do not receive funding or manage construction. Instead, projects are fully delivered by MVT and VIY, removing barriers to participation and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Bev Whitrick, COO at MVT says: “This partnership is about fixing real, structural problems in the grassroots touring ecosystem. We know that rising costs, particularly accommodation, are making touring increasingly difficult. Stay the Night addresses that directly, while Feel At Home ensures artists are properly supported when they arrive. At the same time, these projects create meaningful opportunities for young people to gain skills and experience. It’s practical, it’s immediate, and it delivers long-term impact for both venues and communities.”

First Completed Project: Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich

Our first project is now complete at Voodoo Daddy’s in Norwich, where the grassroots venue has expanded into a newly acquired neighbouring building. The project has created dedicated, self-contained artist accommodation alongside upgraded backstage facilities, transforming previously unsuitable space into practical infrastructure for touring artists. This includes a living area in the new building, with six bunk beds, a shower room, a kitchenette and a functioning toilet.

Ben Street ,Voodoo Daddy’s Venue Manager says: “It’s been amazing to be involved with MVT’s Stay The Night initiative and see our green room transformed into an artist accommodation space. Working alongside the VIY team, the mentors and young people that have helped with the project has been a real pleasure and it feels good to know that they’ll be gaining valuable vocational experience and accreditation here too. The work has already had an impact by allowing us to book in a number of international acts who were struggling to make a show work in Norwich but were happy to confirm once they knew we could offer nice and convenient accommodation right by the venue!” 

Five further projects have now been approved across the North East, Yorkshire, the Midlands and South East London, with additional match funding identified to support delivery across England and Wales. The next phase of the programme will prioritise venues in Scotland and the South West of England.

We’re excited to continue working with MVT to deliver more projects that support grassroots venues, strengthen the touring ecosystem, and create meaningful opportunities for young people across the UK.

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.

VIY and Screwfix Foundation partnership renewed for 2025–26

In our first year working together, we completed 4 community renovation projects thanks to The Screwfix Foundation’s grant funding – from supported housing in East London, to food banks in Nottingham and creative outdoor spaces in their HQ hometown of Yeovil. These projects have created more efficient, more welcoming spaces for the people who rely on them most. See more about these projects here.

Building on that impact, in 2025–26 we’re delivering 4 new projects – one in each UK home nation – taking VIY truly UK-wide.

Hannah Denny, Communications & Partnerships Director for VIY, said:

“We’re so happy to be heading into our second year of partnership with The Screwfix Foundation. With the support of their customers and colleagues, we’re really excited to be working with four new community organisations to renovate their facilities across the UK, as well as helping even more local young people take part in the VIY experience, gaining valuable hands-on experience in various trades, plus City & Guilds accreditations and potential pathways into the industry.”

Headline impact from 2024/25:

• 4 projects funded or co-funded (partnering with VIY partners including Barclaycard, Dulux and Nottingham City Council)
• 69 local young people upskilled on these projects
• Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations gained in Carpentry, Painting & Decorating, Conduct at Work, and Health & Safety
• 96 Screwfix volunteers took part in these projects, supporting a community project in their local area – including superstar mentor Will, who first found VIY while picking up materials at his local Screwfix store, and has been regular Trades Mentor ever since. See him in action at his first project here. 

One of these projects was at The ARK at Egwood CIC in Somerset.  Hear from John Mewett, CEO of Screwfix, as he shares his thoughts on our partnership, and watch the video to go behind the scenes and see the impact the VIY project had on the venue.

Keep following our social channels to see where we’re heading to across the UK!

VIY launches Impact Report 2024-25

This year’s Impact Report brings together the impact we’re having on NEET and economically inactive young people, and on community spaces in need, as well as the wider ripple effect our work is creating for young people, communities and society as a whole.

We’ve strengthened our place-based approach: from working with a wide range of local youth referral partners and learners, to delivering projects across more regions in the UK and Ireland. This has helped us achieve even stronger hyperlocal impact, the kind of change that communities would struggle to achieve without VIY.

And by working with more partners than ever before, we’ve been able to reach even more young people, improve more community spaces, and create lasting impact where it’s needed most.

Read our Impact Report 2024-25

Headlines from this year’s report:

• Supporting 2,051 young people – focusing on those aged 16+ who are NEET and/or economically inactive
• Delivering 130 community projects across the UK – helping community spaces survive and thrive through improvements that help them better serve their communities
• Awarding 1,620 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations – giving young people their first step onto the construction career ladder
• 21% of our 16+ NEET learners moving into further education, employment or training (EET) so far already in 2024-25*

*We continue to support and track EET progressions for VIY learners up to 12 months beyond the end of their VIY experience – and therefore the NEET to EET progression rate for all 2024-25 learners will increase over time up to the end of March 2026.

VIY receives Bristol City Leap funding for community retrofit projects across the city

Bristol City Leap is a pioneering partnership between Bristol City Council and private sector partners, working to deliver large-scale low-carbon energy infrastructure and help the city become carbon neutral by 2030. Through the Community Energy Fund, VIY will work with local partners, including Bristol Energy Network, Centre for Sustainable Energy and West of England Combined Authority to identify and support community spaces ready for an energy-efficiency boost.

We’re in conversation with a number of different community spaces across Bristol, from sports clubs, to arts and cultural spaces, to heritage, youth and community buildings. However we’d love to hear from you if you have a project in mind to boost your energy-efficiency. 

Get in touch with Tom Hague, Retrofit & Green Skills Director at tom@teamviy.com 

“I’m delighted to have returned to VIY to lead our all-important work in Retrofit and Green Skills, including in Bristol. So many community buildings struggle with energy-efficiency and high energy bills, and nationwide we need more young people to enter the green construction workforce. I believe VIY is uniquely placed to tackle these challenges by carrying out community retrofit whilst helping young people develop green skills – including accreditations in retrofit and energy-efficiency – through hands-on work experience. And, thanks to Bristol City Leap, it’s incredibly exciting to be developing a programme of six community retrofit projects across Bristol that will do just that. Our work in Bristol will lead the way as we aim to become the go-to nationwide enabler of community retrofit projects. Watch this space!”

— Tom Hague, Retrofit & Green Skills Director at VIY

Empowering young people with green skills and qualifications

Young people involved in these projects will gain nationally recognised green skills qualifications tailored to different levels, including the NOCN Level 1 Award in Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (with units like Environmental Awareness and Improving Energy Efficiency) and the City & Guilds Entry Level Environmental Awareness unit, providing valuable knowledge and hands-on experience that complement their core construction training.

Building on our work in Bristol and retrofit 

This funding builds on VIY’s ongoing work in retrofit, renovation, like our work with Hornsea 3 Community Fund in Norfolk (see more here) and community projects across Bristol and the surrounding region. Like the Amber Foundation in Trowbridge, where we worked alongside young people living at Amber Trowbridge to transform some of their living, learning, and wellbeing spaces using sustainable approaches, from reusing materials to incorporating calming, natural colour schemes with paint provided by our long-term partners at Dulux. Read more about this fantastic project here. 

With Bristol leading the way towards a carbon-neutral future, these projects will help community spaces cut energy costs and emissions, while giving the next generation of tradespeople hands-on experience and industry-recognised green skills.

We can’t wait to get started!

New 3-year VIY and Barclays partnership to support grassroots sports clubs across the UK

We’re pleased to share that through this partnership with the Barclays Community Sports Fund and Sported, VIY will be able to extend its work supporting grassroots sports clubs to clubs supporting football, cricket and tennis, in some of the UK’s most deprived areas. The fund prioritises projects that make sport more accessible to women and girls, people with disabilities, racially diverse communities, and the LGBTQ+ community, helping tackle inequalities and create inclusive environments.

For VIY, this means continuing to provide young people with practical trade skills and confidence while improving community sports facilities that play a vital role in bringing people together.

Since first partnering with Barclays in 2023, we’ve already:

• Renovated 13 grassroots sports clubs
• Supported over 220 young people to volunteer on these projects
• Seen 95% of young people say they felt more confident, positive and connected after taking part.
• And 100% of venues said they felt more connected to their local community and better equipped to welcome a wider range of people as a result of working with VIY

And now, we’re set to build on that impact with even more ambitious projects.

Kicking things off at Yardley Tennis Club

The first project in our new 3-year partnership with the Barclays Community Sports Fund took us to Yardley Tennis Club in Birmingham, which is also one of the oldest tennis clubs in the UK and still a brilliant hub for the local community today.

Over three weeks, young people from the area, including some who already use the club, worked alongside VIY mentors to build brand new social and seating areas—helping to make the space more welcoming and inclusive to better serve the local community and spectators. It’s exactly the kind of project this partnership is all about: giving young people the chance to learn hands-on skills while improving local spaces that bring people together through sport.

In the final week, we were joined by students from Braidwood Trust School for the Deaf, who got stuck in and helped us finish the transformation in style.

The difference has been huge. What was once a tired, underused outdoor space is now a fresh, vibrant area where people can relax, connect and feel part of the club, whether they’re playing tennis, creating local social connections or just stopping by.

🎥 Check out what Yardley Club Director Stuart had to say about why this project meant so much to the club and the community here.

This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to get going on more projects like this across the UK in partnership with the Barclays Community Sports Fund and Sported.

VIY receives Awards for All funding for projects across Wales, England and Northern Ireland

We’re pleased to share that VIY has received National Lottery Awards for All funding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – helping us deliver more projects where young people can learn trade skills while giving back to their local communities. This will mark our first project in Northern Ireland!

National Lottery Awards for All supports grassroots projects that bring people together and make a difference locally – whether that’s through activities, refurbishments, or help with running costs. For VIY, this support means we can continue to create practical opportunities for young people, while improving the spaces that matter most.

One of these first projects made possible thanks to National Lottery players was an outdoor project at Gabalfa Youth & Community Centre in Cardiff.

The centre was already a busy hub indoors as we previously helped create a multimedia studio there last year, but the outdoor space had plenty of untapped potential. Working with VIY mentors, local young people who regularly use the centre stepped up to transform the garden into a more welcoming and accessible space for everyone.

This was also our first project completed in Wales this year, delivered with support from National Lottery Awards for All, Cardiff Youth Service and Dulux. There’s more to come in Wales as we work with the Moondance Foundation and other partners on projects in Barry, Swansea, Treorchy and Wrexham. Get in touch if you’d like to talk to us about our work in Wales.

Together, the team built raised planters, installed new ramps, added a tool shed, and created a summerhouse-style shelter, painted with Cuprinol spring shades, making the area fit for outdoor learning, socialising and community use all year round.

New projects coming soon in England and Northern Ireland, thanks to Awards for All support.

• In Worcester, we’ll be working at St Paul’s Hostel, improving facilities for people experiencing homelessness. Talk to owen@teamviy.com about this project.

• And in Belfast, we’ll be teaming up with St Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre, where local young people will help to upgrade their community space. Talk to owen@teamviy.com about this project.

These projects bring together everything VIY is about – giving young people a chance to build confidence and skills, while making a real difference in their communities.

A big thank you to #NationalLottery players for helping make these projects possible – and to all the local partners and young people getting involved. There’s more to come, and we can’t wait to get started.

VIY, Continental Tyres and Kwik Fit embark on new partnership

As England Rugby’s official partner, we’re thrilled to be working with Continental Tyres and Kwik Fit on a new programme of work to improve rugby club facilities and encourage more women and girls to get involved in rugby. This programme of work is all about creating dedicated changing rooms for girls, providing a more welcoming environment and breaking down barriers to participation.

To celebrate our latest project together, Ellie Kildunne, World Rugby 15’s Player of the Year and Continental Ambassador, visited our project at Anchorians Sports Club in Gillingham to check out the progress. As part of the project, she shared her own story:

“I played for a boys’ team where… there were only boys’ changing rooms. So I spent most of my time behind a towel that my dad was holding up or in the car getting changed.

To see the difference that’s been made over the past few years… having clubs with areas that are fit for girls to shower, to get changed, to do their hair… it’s a really cool thing to see.”

Through our partnership with Continental Tyres and Kwik Fit, we’re not only enhancing sports facilities for women and girls, but also giving local young people the chance to gain hands-on work experience, develop new skills, and achieve accreditations. This project was co-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Medway Council, VIY Partners Sport England, and material donations from Dulux and Travis Perkins.

By investing in inclusive spaces and advocating for greater diversity in sports, Continental Tyres is playing a crucial role in empowering young girls and women to pursue their sporting ambitions. These improved facilities are more than just buildings – they’re a step towards real change and making everyone feel like they belong.

The impact on the club has been fantastic. Simon Somerset, Anchorians Youth & Mini’s Chairman, shared his thoughts, saying, “The girls were thrilled, and having Ellie visit made it even more special.”

Laura Cowling from Kwik Fit highlighted their commitment to supporting the community: “Our staff and customers have strong ties to the club, and our volunteers are proud to contribute.”

Peter Robb, Marketing Director at Continental Tyres, commented on the launch of the VIY programme: “We’re proud to support this project and create an environment where women and girls feel welcome in rugby.”

See this amazing film to see impact of this project in action: 

VIY expands across the East of England

We’re looking forward to growing our reach to more young people and communities across Essex and Norfolk, thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We’ll be working on new programmes with King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Southend-on-Sea and Tendring Councils, all to help boost the employability of local young people, whilst renovating important community spaces too.

In King’s Lynn, we’ll be working on three local community venues at the heart of local villages there between August-October 2024, building on our previous work in the area like at Kaset Skatepark. We started at Docking Village Hall, improving the overall environment and first impressions to the popular hall hosting physical activity and local community activities. We’ve since completed this great project at North Wootton Village Hall.

In Essex we’ll be working on three community spaces across Southend and Tendring, our first project at Eastwood Community Centre in Southend taking place in August, our second at St Edmunds Hall in October.

Know of young people 16+ who would benefit from the VIY experience in this region? Get in touch here

Some projects will be match-funded by other VIY partners such as Sport England, where physical activity does or may be able to take place, supported with materials donated by our Trade Partners including Dulux.

Are you a local tradesperson interested in helping out?

About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund 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

Next Page »