Help Prevent a Lost Generation in Norfolk
Youth skills in Norfolk are at a turning point. Community groups have practical solutions ready to go. What they need now is the funding to act at pace.
Youth skills are at crisis point across the UK. National leaders warn of a “lost generation” of young people not earning or learning. And here in Norfolk, we are already seeing this pressure every day.
But unlike elsewhere, Norfolk is not waiting. Community groups across the county have the solutions: practical, proven, rooted in local insight, and ready to deliver right now.
Here is our unique advantage: We know what works. We already have oven‑ready community projects ready to fund. We’re some of the way there to funding already, but demand is huge
With your support, we can act at pace, and prevent a “lost generation” in our county.
Norfolk is ready to take action now
Our recent Building Skills for Better Futures fund was oversubscribed threefold. Grassroots groups came forward with strong, locally shaped ideas that help young people build confidence, gain skills and move towards work.
Young people want:
- Real‑world skills and hands‑on training
- Confidence‑building spaces
- Support from trusted local adults
- Routes to volunteering, accreditation and employment
Communities are stepping up. What they need now from us is the ability to deliver.
With partners committed to our Skills for Norfolk mission, we have secured £110,000 to build on this momentum, but without additional support, many of these projects cannot go ahead, despite being ready to go.
Help us close the gap
We are launching an urgent appeal to close the gap. Together, we can help community‑led, high‑impact projects start immediately.
We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of raising £100k, doubling the number of projects we can support. Every £1,000 raised will help an average of 6 young people find the skills, confidence and pathways to training or work.
Your support will help us:
- Back local groups trusted by young people who often feel shut out
- Fund practical activities that build skills, confidence and momentum
- Act now, before barriers grow and opportunities shrink
Every pound stays in Norfolk, supports real action in real communities, and helps prevent a lost generation here at home.
With your help, we can turn solutions into action today, ensuring young people have the opportunity, support and confidence they deserve.
A unique opportunity to build shared learning
We will also bring together organisations working with young people furthest from employment. This will help share learning, build insight and strengthen long-term support across the county. With additional backing, we will gain more insights and make a greater impact on youth unemployment.
Together we are aiming to raise a further £100,000 by 10th April for youth skills in Norfolk.
Your gift today adds to this total in real time and helps unlock community‑led projects that are ready to start.
Starting with confidence: building belief through community
Love Downham, run by the Swan Youth Project, helps young people prepare for working life through a social supermarket and boutique second‑hand clothes store. Young people gain hands‑on experience in customer service, communication, money handling, stock management and timekeeping, supported through tailored one‑to‑one guidance. Staff build strong relationships and match opportunities to each person’s pace. One young man, who had lived with low confidence and social anxiety, began by finding customer conversations daunting. Through patient support and steady encouragement, he grew into his role, later mentoring new volunteers and exploring next steps such as apprenticeships.