6th July 2026
As National Employability Week (6–10 July) shines a spotlight on the importance of skills, confidence and opportunity, we’re celebrating some of the organisations we support that are helping people across the North East move closer to employment, education and training.
Employability is about much more than finding a job. It’s about building confidence, developing skills, creating opportunities and helping people overcome barriers that may be holding them back. Across the projects we work with, we see every day how the right support at the right time can help people realise their potential and take positive steps towards their future.
Building Skills and Confidence for Young People
For many young people, the journey towards employment begins long before they submit their first job application.
North Benwell Youth Project provides opportunities for young people to develop confidence, resilience and practical life skills while building aspirations for the future. Through youth-led activities, mentoring and personal development opportunities, the project helps young people recognise their strengths and prepare for the next stage of their education, training or employment journey.
The LGA Foundation has supported North Benwell Youth Project as part of its commitment to helping young people build brighter futures. By investing in organisations that develop confidence, skills and aspirations, the Foundation is helping to ensure young people have the foundations they need to succeed both in education and later employment.
Similarly, Kids Kabin works with children and young people through creative learning experiences that encourage communication, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. While these programmes are not directly focused on employment, they help develop many of the transferable skills that employers value and which young people need to thrive throughout their lives.
Our support for projects like this reflects a belief that employability starts early and that confidence, creativity and self-belief are often the building blocks that help young people go on to achieve their potential.
Supporting Young People to Reach Their Potential
The Key’s KEY+ Challenge programme helps young people develop the skills, experiences and confidence needed to achieve their goals and progress into education, training and employment.
Through tailored support, practical challenges and personal development opportunities, young people are encouraged to identify their strengths, overcome barriers and build the confidence to take their next steps. The programme helps participants develop important employability skills including communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.
The LGA Foundation is proud to support The Key’s work, helping more young people access opportunities that can have a lasting impact on their futures.
Creating Opportunities Through Personal Development
Employability is closely linked to confidence, wellbeing and social inclusion.
Young Women’s Outreach Project (YWOP) give advice and guidance to young women who may be facing barriers to education, training or employment. By creating supportive environments where young women can develop their aspirations and realise their potential, YWOP is helping to create opportunities that can lead to improved outcomes for individuals and their families.
We want to create pathways that can ultimately lead to greater independence, improved wellbeing and increased employability by helping organisations create opportunities for personal growth and development.
We recognise that meaningful opportunities to develop skills and confidence can be transformative. Whether those opportunities come through training, volunteering, creative activities or community engagement, they all contribute to helping people realise their potential.
Looking Beyond the CV
National Employability Week highlights the importance of helping people develop the skills, confidence and experiences they need to succeed in the workplace and beyond.
Employability is about more than skills on a CV, it’s about helping people believe in themselves, discover their strengths and access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
From helping young people build confidence and aspirations through organisations such as North Benwell Youth Project and The Key, to supporting young women through YWOP and creating inclusive opportunities, the projects we fund are helping to create brighter futures across the North East.
Whether it’s learning a new skill, building confidence, finding a supportive community or taking the first step towards a long-held ambition, these organisations are proving that sometimes the most important investment we can make is in people’s potential.
To find out more about how we can support your organisation, visit https://lga-foundation.org/apply-now/