2018 update:Community grants andbursary programmes

Objectives

The National Express Foundation is central to National Express Group’s support for the wider community in which we operate in the UK.

The public order disturbances in July 2011 highlighted the issues facing young people living in inner-city areas in the UK. The disturbances involved a disproportionate number of people in the 15-24 year age group. Unemployment, boredom and lack of motivation among this group were all cited as factors.

The Foundation aims to tackle these issues in two ways:

Support for students with challenging personal and financial circumstances to enable them to advance their further and higher education

The provision of grants to charitable and community groups for projects which support young people and promote cross-community cohesion and understanding

2018 summary

Since the Foundation was launched in 2012 our funding has supported over 17,600 young people.

In 2018 alone our funding helped 3,400 young people through two funding programmes. It was the first time that we have run two funding programmes in any given year.

In April £160,260 was awarded to support 14 community groups and a university. A further £72,500 was donated to pre-existing commitments with three other community groups and six educational institutions.

In November a further £95,000 was awarded to 12 community groups and two universities. Another £55,000 will be donated to seven of those 12 community groups in 2019 as part of an agreed grant instalment plan. £20,000 will also be given to the two universities in 2019 and 2020 for their bursary instalments.

An evaluation of the projects and educational bursary programmes that we have supported in 2018 are included within this document.

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2018 Foundation awards

First round funding programme – April

Balsall Heath CATS, BirminghamBalsall Heath CATS is a voluntary group set up to help young people with disabilities and individual needs to be part of the local community.

The Foundation has previously funded the group’s projects in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. In 2018 Balsall Heath CATS used a £5,000 grant to continue their Live, Laugh and Learn project, which we started supporting in 2016.

The Live, Laugh and Learn project included a variety of sessions which give young people the opportunity to make choices and develop new interests, skills and confidence. The project provided them with the opportunity to work towards a performance that included dance, drama, script writing and the organisation of a showcase event where they performed in front of their families and people from the local community.

With our support, the Live, Laugh and Learn project helped with the development of nearly 50 local young people aged 10-24 who might not have otherwise been able to experience these kinds of opportunities and activities.

Nazreen Bi, Development Coordinator for Balsall Heath CATS, said:

"We were absolutely thrilled to receive a grant from the National Express Foundation. It helped support local disabled children and young people to have a voice, get involved and take part in things that many of us take for granted. The funding has made a huge impact on those involved to help them Live, Laugh and Learn."

Cannon Street Memorial Baptist Church, BirminghamCannon Street Memorial Baptist Church provides opportunities for disadvantaged people in some of Birmingham’s most deprived areas to engage in a wide range of social, physical, recreational and educational activities to improve their health and wellbeing, self-esteem, education and confidence.

A £10,000 grant supported the group’s Dads and Lads project, with the aim of providing positive male role models for 25 disadvantaged boys and young men aged 12 to 18 who did not have a father figure or a positive male role model in their life.

The group used the funding to deliver regular activities where youngsters were teamed up with a mature and responsible volunteer, who then acted as their father figure or surrogate ‘Dad’.

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Activities supported by our funding included the development of teamwork skills and confidence boosting workshops, communication skills, mentoring sessions and weekly sports, arts and music workshops. The young people involved also had the opportunity to develop a mentoring project with their surrogate ‘Dad’, with the aim of helping them achieve a tangible level of educational attainment or to overcome a specific barrier in their life.

Reverend Bryan Scott, Minister at Cannon Street Memorial Baptist Church, said:

“I would like to thank the National Express Foundation for supporting the work of Cannon Street Dads and Lads project. The funding is truly appreciated and has made a huge difference in many young people’s lives.”

Essex Avenue Community Tenants and Residents Association, West BromwichEssex Avenue Community Tenants and Residents Association’s aim is to tackle issues in the local community by bringing neighbours together to support each other and to improve the area.

We agreed to provide five years of funding to support the group’s activities, starting with £5,000 in 2018.

The group is using our funding to support a calendar of activities including career support services, community cohesion events, crime prevention strategies and social engagement evenings. The overall aim is to encourage 60 local young people to become good citizens that are engaged with and are a productive part of the local community.

Edna Dunn from Essex Avenue Community Tenants and Residents Association, said:

“On behalf of our association and the tenants and residents we represent, we would like to extend our overwhelming gratitude to the National Express Foundation for supporting the important work of this association and for believing in us.

“The funding support means that we have the opportunity to acquire the resources to support our young people to become better citizens, have better career aspirations and to deter them from antisocial behaviours through our projects.”

Gospel Oak Community Centre, BirminghamGospel Oak Community Centre operates from St Michael’s Church in the Hall Green area of Birmingham. The group works to promote the overall wellbeing, plus social and mental welfare of residents in the local area.

The Foundation previously supported the group in 2016 and 2017. In 2018 we provided a £10,000 grant towards weekly activities will engaged 35 local teenagers.

The funding supported diversionary activities to prevent young people becoming involved in crime and anti-social behaviour. It also encouraged them to participate in enterprise and positive social action in their community.

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Young people worked together to develop ideas for small businesses or social enterprises. The centre also provided opportunities for some of the young people to spend time volunteering with local charities which helped them gain crucial life skills and work experience.

Dave Crathorne, Centre Manager for Gospel Oak Community Centre, said:

“Receiving this grant from the National Express Foundation meant we were able to continue to support the young people in and around our community centre. We were able to offer each and every participant the life chances they would not have had access to without this funding.

“Our community craves cooperation and cohesion and the opportunities that this project provided meant we were able to deliver positive results and empower our young adults to make a positive difference in our community.”

Heart and Soul Community CIC, WolverhamptonHeart and Soul Community CIC delivers training and development programmes to young people, offering guidance and practical support to those seeking employment. They aim to provide a voluntary, friendly and approachable service to complement statutory organisations and schemes such as the Job Centre.

In 2016 we supported Heart and Soul with a project aimed at supporting young people seeking apprenticeships or employment in the construction industry.

In 2018 we awarded a £10,000 grant to support the group with courses aimed at improving young people’s confidence and motivation, breaking down barriers and improving employability skills.

20 young people involved with the project worked with the Army Reserves to learn about team building, leadership, problem solving and personal development. They then went on to learn about life skills which helped them understand and develop the key skills needed to go forward into work. The course culminated in a community-based project which highlighted their ability to work in teams and shine with their new found confidence.

Jayne Townsend, Director of Heart and Soul Community CIC, said:

“The National Express Foundation grant was used to inspire young people to identify and develop life skills. These skills were used to create a project which gave something back to the local community, giving the students the confidence, motivation and self-esteem which will stand them in good stead for their futures.”

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Holding On Letting Go, KentHolding On Letting Go provides bereavement support for children and young people who are struggling to cope with the death of somebody very close to them.

In 2017 the Foundation gave the group £2,500 and in 2018 provided another £2,500 to support the costs of art and music therapy sessions for circa 250 young people aged 6-16. The sessions included activities such as decorating bags, memory boxes, use of clay materials and CDs.

Caroline Ford from Holding On, Letting Go, said:

"The grant from the National Express Foundation has been crucial in supporting us with our bereavement support weekends to help grieving children come to terms with the death of someone close to them and move forward in their lives.

“One of the youngsters involved summed up the difference this support has made to him when he said: I’m not as sad anymore. I got to make stuff that made me more smiley and helped me remember all the good fun things.”

Kids In Communication, Walsall and WolverhamptonKids In Communication is a youth-led, social action project that supports disengaged, vulnerable and emotionally challenged young people from some of the most deprived areas of Wolverhampton and Walsall. Their mission is to support young people in getting their voice heard.

A £20,000 grant supported the group’s social impact programme. Through teaching new skills in photography, digital citizenship, audio recording and editing, as well as the opportunity to use these new skills in a practical environment, 150 young people aged 8-18 engaged in positive activities, raising their aspirations by being able to earn a certified award.

Part of the funding was used towards the Kicster’s Digital Citizenship Award which had been designed in partnership with the Open College Network to recognise the skills attained through attending the group’s Kicsters Clubs, which are then applied to the benefit of the local community. In 2017 we supported the costs of the Digital Citizenship Awards.

Rob Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Kids In Communication, said:

“KIC was absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with the National Express Foundation. The funding support enabled us to continue to deliver positive activities and recognise the achievements of many young people in Walsall and Wolverhampton. This charitable support is a vital lifeline for smaller organisations and really helps local communities.”

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Lee Chapel North Helping Hands Job Club, BasildonLee Chapel North Helping Hands Job Club was set up in 2013 to provide a place for young people who have difficulty in accessing technology to look for work, training or education.

The Foundation provided funding for the group in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and in 2016 we pledged to give the group £5,000 for three years.

With the sale of the National Express Group c2c Rail business in 2017, we no longer invite applications from South Essex or East London groups as we are no longer a prominent public transport operator in that area, however we upheld our pledge to Lee Chapel and in 2018 provided them with their final annual grant.

The group used £5,000 to support local young people who needed to improve their English skills, or who used English as a second language. This support from Lee Chapel complemented the existing activities but also helped to improve the users’ self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to move on to searching, applying for and securing a job or means of further education.

New Heights Warren Farm Community Project, BirminghamNew Heights was formed when local people became concerned about vulnerable peoples’ needs not being met. A small group formed a management committee and then registered as a charity that now works with the most disadvantaged members of Birmingham’s Kingstanding community.

A £5,000 grant supported the group’s fitness and sports activities after a community consultation identified that there was a lack of affordable and accessible opportunities for young people to participate in local sporting activities.

Part of the funding was used towards equipment aligned to several different sports and part of it was used towards an instructor who ran activities but also trained New Heights volunteers to ensure the project was sustainable. With our support the group engaged engage 30 local young people.

John McGorman from New Heights Warren Farm Community Project, said:

“The National Express Foundation grant allowed New Heights to establish opportunities for young people to participate in free activities here in Kingstanding. It also supported a qualified instructor to train New Heights’ volunteers so that the activities are sustainable in the future. This is exactly the type of new activity in Kingstanding that local people asked for.”

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New Life Resource Centre CIC, WalsallNew Life Resource Centre supports the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the local Walsall community. They look to support people self-actualising in little things and changes, which they feel can then bring about big changes.

The group used a £10,000 grant to run an in-school intervention project for 30 young people who had been excluded or who were at risk of exclusion. The funding supported engaging activities in enterprise and creativity, problem solving, numeracy and literacy.

By working with specialist staff the young people learned how to manage their behaviour and how to develop and manage themselves when under pressure, turning it into a more positive outcome.

Elizabeth Eze from New Life Resource Centre CIC, said:

“We were very grateful for this opportunity to work with the National Express Foundation. The funding has made a great difference to the delivery of our work.”

Olio Hub, DarlastonOlio Hub was formed in 2012 as a direct result of public consultation in the Darlaston area of the West Midlands which identified that local young people did not have a facility or any structured out of school activities for them to join in with.

The hub is now also used by other community groups which host their own activities on site for the wider community to enjoy.

The Foundation provided funding for the group in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and in 2016 pledged to give the group £5,000 for three years.

The group used our £5,000 grant to further develop the activities available to young people in the Darlaston area, with some of the funding being used to purchase additional music instruments and music tutors and workshops which enhanced the learning and development of young people who used the existing facilities. The funding also helped to provide extra ‘Born to Perform’ activity sessions for even more young people who had previously been unable to join due to limited availability of equipment.

Sheppey Matters, KentSheppey Matters aims to promote and protect the health and advance the education and social wellbeing of the people working and living on the Isle of Sheppey. It currently runs seven projects at four separate venues.

A £10,000 grant was used to deliver sessions for 26 young people that had missed out on school for a variety of reasons. The sessions encouraged young people to learn in a structured way but without a regimented approach, helping them to develop key skills and qualifications for when they seek employment or further education.

Nigel Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Sheppey Matters, said:

“We were absolutely thrilled that the National Express Foundation funded our project for young people on the Isle of Sheppey. The course was designed for an informal approach to attract young people, who 8

had a negative educational experience, to participate in a positive pathway into employment or further education.

“The Foundation funding, supported by the Sheppey Matters youth team, gave them the encouragement, skills and qualifications to achieve a more positive and confident outlook for their future.”

Smethwick Youth and Community Centre, SmethwickSmethwick Youth and Community Centre aims to support people on their steps to success through health, employment, learning and poverty reduction. They offer inclusive cultural, educational, recreational and social programmes and services.

A £10,260 Foundation grant supported the group with a health and education project that they named Smethwick Targeted Engagement Programme (STEP). It engaged around 200 young people aged between 11 and 19.

On the education side of the programme, the group built upon the work they did in 2017 (with the help of our funding) whereby they helped young people to improve their numeracy and literacy skills, providing them with a better chance at accessing the jobs market whilst increasing their educational knowledge.

On the health side of the programme, the group engaged young people in sporting activities throughout the year to encourage fitness and active, healthy lifestyles.

Luke Darbey, Community Centre Manager at Smethwick Youth and Community Centre, said:

"We are so pleased that the National Express Foundation was able to support the Smethwick Targeted Engagement Programme (STEP), which focused on health and education for young people.

“We have a true passion for supporting young people's development and securing this funding meant we were able to help our young people through their developing years in the key areas of educational and health development.

“Our young people were so enthusiastic to be involved in this project and really enjoyed our sessions. Thank you again to the National Express Foundation for making this work possible."

Tara Martins Community Project, KentTara Martins Community Project aims to help young, single, homeless people secure accommodation, jobs, education or vocational skills to enable them to sustain independent lives within the community.

In 2017 the National Express Foundation provided the group with a £2,500 grant to support the costs associated with a day centre which provided young homeless people with the opportunity to learn skills and access training that would enable them to get back into further education or jobs.

In 2018 a £10,000 grant supported the group’s one-year work experience and work placement programme which engaged 100 young unemployed people aged between 18 and 24, providing them with valuable skills and experience for future employment.9

Tara Sobowale from the Tara Martins Community Project, said:

“We would like to say a huge thank you to the National Express Foundation for supporting our 2018 work experience programme. It was designed to enable the increasing number of young unemployed people get into work and training and follows on from the previous youth engagement programme which was also made possible by a grant from the National Express Foundation.

“The grant has really helped our local young people and created an even greater positive impact in our community.”

The Vine Trust Walsall, WalsallThe Vine Trust Walsall was founded in 1989 as a youth drop-in facility in a notorious derelict pub in the town centre. The trust has developed a multi-channel proactive response to the evolving needs of young people in the Black Country.

A £20,000 grant supported the group’s StreetLife project, which engaged 40 16-24 year olds by developing their sense of good citizenship.

StreetLife is a regular daytime catering service for rough sleepers in Walsall town centre, run by a team of mainly volunteer young people that are safeguarded and supervised by a small management group from Vine Trust’s existing staff team.

Paul Watson, Director of Vines Trust Walsall, said:

“Walsall, just like most towns and cities has seen the challenges many of our homeless citizens face on a daily basis and the National Express Foundation demonstrated their commitment to social impact projects that directly affect local communities.

“The funding support from the Foundation was invaluable to deliver our Street Life project. It helped create awareness and a tangible platform for our youth to help with the needs of their local community.”

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, BirminghamFounded in 1980, The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country was the first ever urbanWildlife Trust, establishing the importance of enabling city residents to connect with their local natural environment.

A £10,000 grant supported two environmental projects that engaged 72 15-18 year olds from inner-city Birmingham.

The first, based in Winson Green, consisted of two six-month programmes of volunteering and practical training for young people with special educational needs.

The second, based in Small Heath, consisted of a series of four-week-long courses for young people that were NEET or at-risk of becoming NEET.

Gareth Morgan, People and Wildlife Manager for The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, said:

“Thank you to the National Express Foundation for supporting our work connecting young people with their natural environment. 10

“We believe everybody should have the right to enjoy nature and wildlife and we were able to support even more city kids discover and explore the nature in their neighbourhoods.”

Walsall Creative Factory CIC, WalsallWalsall Creative Factory was set up to provide community cohesion and educational projects in Walsall using the arts.

The group has worked with three separate groups in the north Walsall area and used a £10,000 grant to support a six month exchange programme between the disparate groups.

The programme engaged 70 young people aged between 9 and 25, helping them gain a greater understanding of the different natures of the people in each group and the issues that they faced. The young people explored issues such as identity, prejudice and preconceptions with the aim of changing how the participants felt about different sections of society.

The groups were Birchills Youth Club, which were predominantly muslim asian young people, Creative Factory Youth Arts Group which included deaf members and Goscote Greenacres which included young people with special educational needs in a mainly white working class area.

Each group completed their own exploration project with four exchange events where they each brought a presentation and contributed to each other’s events.

Debra Slade from Walsall Creative Factory CIC, said:

“Walsall Creative Factory were over the moon to be awarded funding for our exchange project with Birchills Youth Club and Goscote Greenacres. The project enabled us to support all three organisations to explore self-identity and prejudice in their own space and brought their projects to exchange as each group hosted the others to build up understanding and break down perceived barriers between different communities.”

Aston UniversityAston University used a bursary grant of £10,000 to support 20 students with their living expenses whilst undertaking unpaid placements.

The funding support was focused on students undertaking placements in healthcare settings and they will each received £500, paid in two equal instalments.

Dominic Riordan from Student and Academic Services at Aston University, said:

“The grant from the National Express Foundation was used to support a number of students from low income families who were undertaking year-long unpaid placements as part of their studies within the School of Life and Health Sciences.

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“The individual awards given to these students, studying healthcare-related courses such as Psychology, Audiology and Biomedical Sciences, were used to supplement living costs while living and working away from Birmingham.”

Second round funding programme – November

Aptitude Organisation CIC, CoventryAptitude Organisation CIC was established in January 2017 and works with young people, children and families by engaging them in activities which support their personal, social, and emotional development. The group supports young people on many areas of life including relationships, bullying, personal safety, child sexual exploitation, healthy lifestyles and substance misuse. It helps young people to get involved in activities which promote community and family cohesion, offering volunteering opportunities and peer to peer programmes which encourage active citizenship.

Our £10,000 grant is being used to train 60 young people aged 13-25 in a Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) peer mentoring programme. Working in partnership with West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance and local police, it will provide training to support young people to be calm and provide effective ways to challenge abuse and bullying. The funding will also support new volunteers aged 18-25 to be positive role models and provide safeguarding training for volunteer youth peer mentors. Volunteers will attend local events that are popular with young people to support the police with violence prevention, helping to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the community.

Tara Foster, Aptitude Organisation CIC, said:

"Aptitude Organisation are passionate about empowering young people to be confident in ways they can help reduce youth violence. Through the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme model Aptitude youth workers will be able to train young people to feel supported and safe in their communities, giving them essential skills to know when help is needed and how to do this in the right way."

Coventry Boys and Girls ClubCoventry Boys and Girls Club has been established since 1935 and became a charity in 1997. As an organisation, it offers youth club sessions, outreach work in Canley, Tile Hill, Manor Farm and Willenhall, and a mini-bus service that transports young people to the club’s centre from different areas around Coventry.

Our £20,000 grant is supporting the group to increase its youth club provision by 50%, meaning the club can run sessions on six nights a week compared with three. The doubling of sessions means that 150 young people aged 15-24 will be able to attend and enjoy the youth club activities. The sessions include a range of activities such as sports, music production, dance and social space. In addition, the funding is also supporting the club to help young people with their personal development by offering guidance on achieving in school, securing employment or finding training.

EmployabilityUK, WolverhamptonThe mission of EmployabilityUK is to facilitate employer engagement to enhance the aspirations, opportunities and career prospects of young people. As an education charity, it works with schools, colleges, youth organisations and employers to understand needs and aspirations, offering employability skills training with practical experience. The group’s aim is to help improve the employability skills of young people, raise their confidence and help prepare them for the workplace.

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Our £10,000 grant will support the group with providing employability skills training to over 75 young people aged 16-18, from a range of backgrounds and ability levels in West Bromwich, Sandwell and Dudley. The focus is on raising aspirations, confidence and work-readiness, with an emphasis on coaching which will find the (often hidden) potential in those young people involved in the project.

Diane Vernon, Chief Executive, EmployabilityUK said:

“We are delighted to announce our brand new partnership with National Express Foundation. As a result of their generosity we will be delivering first-class employability skills programmes to young people at schools in Dudley, Sandwell and West Bromwich, in spring 2019. Not only will this directly benefit more than 75 young people, many more students will hear from speakers from National Express and other businesses from across the region.”

Friends of Tividale Park, OldburyThe Friends of Tividale Park Group aims to improve facilities in the local community and helps to organise and develop a range of community activities and events to bring people of all ages together. Monthly meetings are held that are attended by various partners such as local police and although Tividale Park is the focus of the group they support wider projects and initiatives to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Our £5,000 grant is helping the group with a community cohesion project to engage 100 young people within an anti-social behaviour hotspot in Oldbury. It is being run between local school children in partnership with the local police team and small businesses in the Oldbury area that provide workshops with a view to developing, confident, tolerant, respectful and aspirational young people in the community. The project aims to break down community barriers and misconceptions as well as help local young people to develop an understanding of how to make the most out of living and working in the area.

Hall Green Youth, BirminghamHall Green Youth was established in 2006 in response to a lack of activities for young people in the area. It aims to identify and meet the needs of young people, increase their confidence and improve understanding between generations.

The Foundation supported the group in 2016 by providing funding towards a Just Us Girls group, providing a safe and positive environment for 11-18 year olds to take part in activities such as arts, cooking, drama and team building workshops.

In 2017 the group used a £2,500 grant towards a new mixed-gender after school club and drop-in at a community hall that was on many young people’s journey home from school and also on a main bus route, making it easily accessible. It provided positive activities for young people, with the first hour being a drop-in for up to 20 11-18 year olds who wanted to drop in on their way home from school, and the second hour delivering a structured programme of activities including arts, cooking, physical activity, drama and team building. The young people named this club as Just Chill.

Our £5,000 grant in 2018 supports the continued development of Just Chill. The project has evolved and benefits vulnerable young people identified by two local secondary schools, community organisations and young people themselves. Just Chill sessions provide a positive, safe, fun space where 35 young people aged 11-18 have the opportunity to form and build new relationships, take part in activities that will build their confidence in a positive environment and either learn new skills or develop and improve the skills that they already have.

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Sarah Barnes, Hall Green Youth, said:

"We are delighted to have received further support from the Foundation. This will have lasting benefits for young people by enabling us to provide a safe, fun space where young people can participate in activities that will build their skills and confidence.”

Handsworth Wood Youth Group, BirminghamHandsworth Wood Youth Group was set up in June 2012 with the help of our Foundation. It was created following the Birmingham riots which involved youths from Handsworth Wood after it identified that local young people were bored and lacked motivation to do much other than spend their time on the streets. The primary focus of the group is to engage young people in positive activities as well as community events to help break down barriers and promote community cohesion.

Our £2,500 grant in 2018 is supporting the group with costs associated with engaging over 30 young people aged 15-24 in its weekly sports activities as well as monthly youth talks that include guest speakers that bring up and discuss issues in the local area, such as drugs and gangs.

Jamshed Mohammed, Handsworth Wood Youth Group, said:

“Without the National Express Foundation funding we would not be able to do all the local community youth work we do. The grant makes such a difference for us.”

Krunch UK, OldburyKrunch aims to help young people discover “who they are, what they want to be and how to getThere”. It delivers an accredited personal development and life skills programme to children and young people aged 9-25 years, with a focus on improving emotional health and wellbeing and identifying a young persons’ unique potential to maximise their life chances. The group also aims to reduce barriers to education, employment and training by providing a range of services including alternative education, one-to-one mentoring services, group workshops, and open access youth work within a multi-agency framework.

The Foundation supported Krunch in 2014 by providing a £2,500 grant to deliver workshops to 12 students in two schools. The workshops centred on community cohesion by encouraging students to work on their experiences and feelings by breaking down barriers and perceived differences.

Our £20,000 grant in 2018 is funding a new project called KEY Women - Krunch Empowering Young Women. The project will improve the emotional health, wellbeing and life chances of 22 females aged 16-19 years and will include young girls involved in or around risky or exploitative situations and people. It includes peer group support and positive activities as well as ongoing community volunteer opportunities for those involved, helping to develop confidence. The aim is to empower young ladies to become more self-aware about their personal choices, safety, aspirations and what healthy relationships can look like.

New Park Village Activities Network, WolverhamptonNew Park Village Activities Network was set up in 2005 following a shooting on a local estate. At the public meeting that followed residents said that they needed more activities for their young people to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. The group provides a number of activities to engage young people, giving them a sounding board and a safe place to meet with other young people outside of a school setting.

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Our £20,000 grant is supporting the group with a new project called Future Aspirations. The project engages 120 young people aged 14-24 in weekly sessions, providing help and support centred around training opportunities and employment choices including apprenticeships, job searching skills, CV writing and interview skills.

William Nicholls MBE, New Park Village Activities Network, said:

“We are delighted that the National Express Foundation has been able to provide funding to support us. It will enable us to deliver the skills and specialist advice to young people concerning career opportunities and has the potential to change many young lives in Wolverhampton.”

Olio Hub, DarlastonOlio Hub was formed in 2012 as a direct result of public consultation in the Darlaston area of the West Midlands which identified that local young people did not have a facility or any structured out of school activities for them to join in with. The hub is now also used by other community groups which host their own activities on site for the wider community to enjoy.

The Foundation has provided support for the group since 2013 due to the innovative way in which the group uses our funding to continually deliver engagement activities for local young people.

Our £20,000 grant in 2018 is being used to further develop activities at the hub for the growing number of young people involved. Six small projects that had previously been piloted and well received by young people at the hub are being supported by our 2018 funding award. This means 375 young people aged between 7 and 25 can enjoy the different activities which include Born to Perform, Boxfit, Perfect Pitch, Loco Academy, Stretch & Flex, and Funky Fusion.

Sandra Adams, Olio Hub, said:

“Words cannot describe how excited we are to have been given further support by the National Express Foundation. It will help us go forward with bringing our exciting new plans into fruition.

“Olio really has been put back on the map by the National Express Foundation and we are so grateful for the continued support. Our community will certainly be a better place for the new activities.”

Opportunities with Experience CIC, GravesendOpportunities with Experience strives to break down barriers by supporting women who would like to work within the construction trades sector. It offers courses in interior decorating/CSCS card training, which includes working towards a Level 1 award in Health & Safety in a Construction Environment and the Health Safety & Environment test to apply for a CSCS Green Labourers card for work on a construction site.

Our £5,000 grant is being used to help tackle the low attainment of 16 women and young mums aged 18-24 who would like a career in the construction industry. The group’s workshops aim to provide a practical and inspiring learning experience for those women and young people who wish to ‘have a go’ at a trade, helping them to develop their skills and confidence before pursuing a career in construction.

Angela Steele, Opportunities with Experience, said:

“Receiving this grant from the National Express Foundation helps OWE CIC open once closed doors to young women and mums who are considering becoming qualified tradeswomen in the construction industry. 16 women and young mums will really have opportunities from their experience.”15

Recre8now, BirminghamRecre8now was established in 2011 and recognised that those who presented challenging behaviours often responded well to active methods of engagement and that many young people embraced this creative way of working. The group has worked with over 4,200 young people since 2011, 40% of whom were in education and 60% of whom were in prison and rehabilitation orders.

Our £10,000 grant is being used to train 15 young ex-offenders aged 15-18 to become community peer mentors. The young people will be referred via Birmingham Youth Offending Service, Time Out Community Centre in Nechells and West Midlands Police. The aim is to help peer mentors develop new skills which enable them to talk to and support other young people who are at risk of offending in their communities and to prevent further offending. It helps those involved to be given a sense of purpose and increase their self-esteem and confidence as they will be able to help steer other young people away from making the same mistakes they made. After training each peer mentor works with local schools in the community to provide direct support to other young people. Overall we expect this project to support and engage around 300 young people.

Daniela Varley, Recr8now, said:

“We are delighted to have been recognised by National Express Foundation for the work that we do. The funding will help change the lives of 15 young people who have limited opportunities.

“By giving financial support to community organisations, the National Express Foundation is helping us change young people’s lives by empowering them and giving them the skills to fulfil their potential.”

Swale Gloves Amateur Boxing Club, SittingbourneSwale Gloves Amateur Boxing Club was established ten years ago as young people within the local community had little to do in the evenings. The club has helped people involved, or at risk of becoming involved, in crime and anti-social behaviour to turn their lives around and has positive role models that are visible examples of how to be good member of the community, resist peer pressure, and avoid harmful activities.

Our £2,500 grant is being used to support the club with new equipment and increasing participation by offering new sessions and targeting new members.

John Williams, Swale Gloves Amateur Boxing Club, said:

“Being awarded National Express Foundation funding is great news for our club. It is helping us to provide better facilities for our existing members and also allows us to offer more spaces to young people within our community.”

Birmingham City UniversityBirmingham City University is using funding of £10,000 per year for three years to support 10 students each year (30 across the three year bursary programme) with a retention, attainment and graduating (RAG) bursary for new and existing students who are from care, or for those that have been estranged from parents and forced out of education due to financial pressures because there is no-one or nowhere to turn to when they need help.

The provision of bursaries for these vulnerable groups will assist in retaining students, rewarding their progress and to assist them to graduate or to secure more permanent accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.16

Sharon Atkinson, Birmingham City University said:

“The award from the National Express Foundation is without a doubt, exceptional support that will be used to assist our students from care who have made it to university, have financial challenges and have no one to turn to. We would like to express our gratitude to the Foundation as we know how much this will help our students.”

Coventry UniversityCoventry University is using funding of £10,000 per year for three years to support 10 students each year (30 across the three year bursary programme) that are care leavers or that have a disability; two underrepresented groups in higher education.

Recognising that these two groups may need more support than their peers, the university will also offer further support in the form of more personal careers guidance through ongoing mentoring support.

Ian Dunn, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Coventry University, said:

“We are delighted that the National Express Foundation has supported us once again. As a University we are committed to supporting all our students so that they have the best experience possible while they are here with us. We recognise that some students face more challenges than others so these bursaries will support two groups who are significantly underrepresented in higher education.”

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