The Openwork Partnership, one the UK’s largest financial services networks, today announces Young Enterprise as one of its new national charity partners for the next 3 years.
The Openwork Foundation has been at the heart of The Openwork Partnership family since 1981, donating more than £22 million to UK registered charities supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas.
The Foundation inspires a community of Openwork Partnership businesses, advisers and colleagues to fundraise and donate, enabling them to make grant donations to charities supporting local communities.
As part of the grant programme, The Openwork Foundation is proud to have two, three-year strategic partnerships with national charities. This year the Foundation is excited to announce a new £150,000 partnership with the financial and enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise.
The Openwork Foundation will support Young Enterprise in the form of an annual grant of £50,000 towards its Inspiring Futures programme and provide volunteer time with young people., building a mutually beneficial relationship.
Young Enterprise is a national charity which specialises in financial and enterprise education and is a trusted and valued provider of knowledge, resources and training to anyone teaching young people how to manage money. Young Enterprise works directly with young people, teachers, and volunteers, with the support of corporate partners, to build a successful and sustainable future for all young people.
The Inspiring Futures initiative provides young people in some of the most deprived constituencies across the country with opportunities that could change the trajectory of their futures and communities. Through the support from The Openwork Foundation, Young Enterprise are able to offer schools careers and enterprise programmes to ensure young people are supported to build work readiness skills, develop enterprising mindsets and raise their aspirations. Ultimately the project will support young people to contribute to their community through increasing their chances in gaining employment.
Inspiring Futures participants start behind their peers in certain measures but are much more likely to have accessed opportunities, developed skills, and become better prepared for the world of work by the end of the programme than the average young person. Last year 100% of participants reported they now understood the value of lessons and 83% had an increased confidence in handling money.
The partnership is being launched at New College in Swindon by supporting an Inspiring Futures Launchpad day, taking place on 25 June.
Through Openwork’s commitment to providing more young people with the opportunity to participate in the Inspiring Futures programme, Openwork hope to assist in removing barriers to social mobility and increase future employment opportunities for young people in Swindon and across the UK.
Lisa Willingham, Openwork Foundation Manager, said: “Young Enterprise offers valuable support to young people, by giving them the tools to develop resilience and key life and business skills, enabling them to lead fulfilling lives. We are delighted to be working with Young Enterprise, specifically in areas of the UK where barriers to social mobility are more prevalent.”
Russell Winnard, COO of Young Enterprise, said: “We are extremely appreciative of Openwork Foundation’s support over the next three years, enabling young people to develop skills through our ‘Inspiring Futures’ programme. The programme provides young people who may experience some of the greatest barriers to social mobility with applied learning opportunities that can inspire and prepare them for future success. We are looking forward to working with Openwork Foundation and New College in Swindon for the benefit of young people in the Swindon area and other local communities.”
Matt Butcher, Vice Principal – Commercial, Skills and Partnerships at New College Swindon, said: “New College Swindon are excited to offer this Launchpad to our pupils and grateful to The Openwork Foundation and Young Enterprise for selecting our college to participate. As a college we pride ourselves in innovative learning approaches to ensure our learners are ready for the workplace and this is another great addition to the opportunities we offer our students.”