VIY to deliver Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme with Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority

Delivered over the next 8 months, the programme will provide young people with the opportunity to gain hands-on construction skills, accredited qualifications, mentoring and real-life work experience while renovating valuable community spaces across the region.

This new local authority partnership builds on VIY’s success delivering the UK Government’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme with 5 other local authority areas across Birmingham, Dudley, Liverpool, Walsall and South Bristol.

Across these programmes, more than 100 young people have already taken part,  with over 80% of them achieving City & Guilds accreditations while making a lasting difference to their local communities.

Along the way, many have gone on to take important next steps. Brandon, 21, who first joined VIY as a learner on our Trailblazer project at Hartcliffe City Farm in Bristol, is now employed by VIY as a Peer Mentor, supporting other young people on projects across the South West and Wales. Hear directly from Brandon about his experience with VIY and the Trailblazer programme here.

Meanwhile, Scott, who joined a Trailblazer project at the Joseph Lappin Centre in Liverpool after struggling to find work without experience, has continued volunteering at the centre and is now exploring opportunities to progress into paid employment.

You can explore more stories from our Youth Guarantee Trailblazer projects, meet the young people involved and see the impact being made across the country on our Youth Trailblazer programme page.

If you’re interested in collaborating with VIY on the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme across Cambridge and Peterborough – whether by referring young people, providing community project opportunities or supporting delivery – we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with Alice, our Programme Manager in the East of England, at alice@teamviy.com.