The Foundation has recently launched a new Strategic Partnership with Groundwork London, through which we will be funding a bespoke Youth Leadership Programme for the next three years.
Groundwork London works with communities across the capital to transform their lives and the places they live. They have been at the forefront of social and environmental regeneration in London for over 25 years, and today they have a simple mission: to create better places, improve people’s prospects, and promote greener living and working.
Recognised for their project delivery across green space social action, alongside young people’s skills development to help prepare them for future work, especially in the green economy, they create tangible opportunities, coaching, and wider social and emotional support.
Our partnership provides funding for a 14-week programme, that will incorporate weekly leadership skills workshops, social action planning, and a leadership residential. Young people will apply the skills they learn to local green spaces, using social action to improve their local environment and their own lives, gaining employability skills and confidence while engaging with nature, often for the first time.
The first cohort of young people will come from Hammersmith and Fulham. An additional five cohorts will benefit from the programme in Year 1, covering London and Southampton. Over the course of the three years, the programme aims to engage 264 disadvantaged young people aged 16-19, who do not traditionally have access to green spaces and who are at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training).
Peter Fleet, Youth Development Manager at Groundwork London & Groundwork South commented:
"Groundwork is really excited to be working in partnership with the Berkeley Foundation. Our Leadership Programme will seek to engage young people across the capital and Hampshire from diverse areas and backgrounds. We are immensely grateful to the Berkeley Foundation for their support and for their recognition of the valuable work we undertake to improve the lives of young people and the communities in which they live."
Clare Maddison, Interim Head of Berkeley Foundation added:
"We want to ensure that young people are empowered to positively impact their own lives and the communities in which they live. Our Strategic Partnership with Groundwork London offers a real opportunity to do just that – providing young people with leadership skills and social action projects, while equipping them for careers in the green economy.
We’re really excited to maximise Berkeley’s skills, networks and expertise to add value to our partnership".
There will be plenty of opportunities for Berkeley staff to engage in the partnership through activities like site tours, employment talks, and workshops during the leadership modules, and assisting with curriculum design.