Why Skills Matter: Supporting Norfolk’s Young People Into Employment
Through our Skills for Norfolk mission, we work alongside donors, charities and community organisations to fund the practical solutions bringing the workplace within reach.
Norfolk is home to innovative businesses, growing industries and a wealth of opportunity. Yet for many young people, the journey into employment is not straightforward. At the start of 2025, 1,141 Norfolk young people aged 16-17 were recorded as not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Problems and Solutions
When we talk about employability, it is easy to focus solely on qualifications or training. For many young people, however, barriers are actually confidence, a lack of workplace experience, limited networks, transport difficulties, poor mental health or uncertainty about future options. Without support to overcome these challenges, even opportunities on their doorstep can feel out of reach.
Earlier this year, Norfolk Community Foundation launched the Building Skills for Better Futures Fund to support this work. The fund received three times more applications than we could support, but thanks to additional donations through our Lost Generation Appeal, we were able to fund 25 skills-focused projects set on tackling Norfolk’s biggest barriers, helping bring the workplace within reach for hundreds of young people.
Building confidence through nature
One organisation taking a different approach is Green Light Trust. We funded them to work with young people who are not in education, employment or training to deliver nature-based activities that help participants build confidence.
Young people take part in conservation work, habitat creation, green woodworking, camp maintenance, outdoor cooking and wellbeing activities, all designed to strengthen communication, teamwork, problem-solving and workplace skills.
During a recent visit, we were able to see the wider impact of Green Light Trust’s work firsthand. It reinforced the value of creating supportive environments where people can build confidence at their own pace.
Supporting young people towards a job and a home
For some young people, employability support needs to go hand in hand with practical support for independent living. That’s the focus of Your Own Place’s A Job and A Home programme, which supports care-experienced young people, refugees and asylum seekers across Norfolk.
We funded the ten-month programme, which supports young people with CV writing, job searching, interview preparation and employability skills. Alongside this, they are also taught practical skills such as budgeting, managing bills, and tenancy responsibilities.
Working in colleges, supported housing settings, community venues and partner organisations across Norfolk, the project brings support directly into places where young people already feel comfortable and connected.
What we’re seeing
For many young people, the first step towards work is building confidence. From there, they can seek the practical skills and experience they need to reach work.
Across Norfolk, community organisations are already delivering proven, practical solutions helping young people develop their skills, broaden their horizons and take positive steps towards employment. What they need is the funding and backing to reach more young people.
Through Skills for Norfolk, we will continue to work with donors, partners and local organisations to help more young people develop the confidence, skills and opportunities they need to build brighter futures.