The Rigby Foundation: Empowering Youth Futures
The Rigby Foundation isn’t just a funder; it's an active driver of change in the West Midlands. Their core focus: to break down barriers and create pathways to quality education and sustainable employment for young people, with a particular emphasis on central and south Birmingham. They believe potential shouldn't be limited by background.
The Foundation’s flagship "Inspiring Futures Programme," launched to celebrate the Rigby Group's 50th anniversary, embodies this proactive approach. By connecting ten schools and colleges with ten leading charities, they're actively delivering targeted support, from boosting Maths and English grades to nurturing mental well-being and preparing students for higher education and careers.
"We are focused on nurturing and supporting our region’s young people into work. That starts with a good education," they state, highlighting their commitment to raising aspirations. A £3 million investment over three years, alongside collaborations with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Birmingham City Council, actively fuels this transformative work.
The Foundation's journey has underscored the power of collaboration and strategic vision. "Working collaboratively with schools, colleges, charities, and local government... enables Birmingham’s young people to achieve their potential," they emphasise. They've learned that "ensuring that there is a robust strategic vision for the Foundation that can be clearly articulated and communicated" is essential.
They value the West Midlands Funders Network for its ability to foster community and collaboration. "The opportunity to share and learn from others’ experience and knowledge, celebrating successes, working together to discuss barriers and highlight potential solutions," is what they value most.
To ensure their work truly resonates, they are actively establishing a Youth Steering Group. "As part of the wider work of the Foundation, we will establish a Youth Steering Group, with young people from across our educational partners, to enable us to hear directly from young people and learn about their own experiences and perspectives."
Looking ahead, the Foundation is expanding its impact. They're tackling student absenteeism with the Centre for Social Justice, aiming to work with parents again and re-build communication and trust between home and school. They're also investing £600k over three years with Generation UK, to support at least 300 local people into careers including tech, green energy and health and social care, through short intensive training courses. They want to explore with peers, "their experiences of supporting young people into education and employment in the region; what barriers they overcame and what programmes have been most impactful."
"It is important for us to be part of this Network as it enables us to learn from the rich and varied work that members are delivering or developing, as well as to share our own experiences, thereby increasing mutual opportunities for skill and knowledge development," they conclude. The Rigby Foundation is actively shaping a brighter future for the young people of the West Midlands.
