We're passionate about supporting the vulnerable
Our charities are chosen by the board of trustees and meet a specific set of criteria. We are passionate about supporting vulnerable people looking to get back into employment. Find out more about the charities and how we are supporting them.
Back Up Trust
Back Up exists to transform the lives of everyone affected by spinal cord injury. That means delivering a range of services to build confidence and independence back into people’s lives, and offering a support network when it is needed most. It also means challenging perceptions of disability – that life with spinal cord injury can be a full and active one. Many of their volunteer and staff teams have been affected by spinal cord injury, and have a strong understanding of the challenges an injury can pose. They support over 800 people a year – of all ages and injury levels – to lead the life they want. They are there at every stage, and are there for families and loved ones too.
CHOOSE LOVE
Choose Love is a movement of people who are working towards a world motivated by love, where displaced communities can thrive. They get emergency aid and life-changing support directly to displaced communities, fast.
Since Choose Love started in 2015, 10 years ago, they've supported more than 8.5 million displaced people and worked with over 600 local partners across 51 countries to provide vital humanitarian aid like food, water, safe shelter, medical support, education and so much more.
They do this by partnering with incredible grassroots and community-led organisations who are tapped into the real needs of displaced communities, and work with them to make sure they have the funding and support they need to provide the right support.
Through working with their network of partners, they have seen time and time again that the most effective way of providing humanitarian aid is by partnering with local communities who are already operating on the ground, and who know what displaced people need most – but often receive almost no funding from international aid budgets.
Thanks to their amazing supporters, who donate to our work, come to events, buy merch and fundraise, they have been able to raise over £125 million for refugees and displaced people around the world. Since 2015 they have worked with over 620 partners in 50 countries, reaching over 8.9 million people.
www.choose.love
Down Syndrome Association
The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) supports all people who have Down’s syndrome, their parents and carers and the professionals who work with them, throughout their lives.
The charity is committed to improving the quality of life for people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others.
The DSA operates throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is the only charity in the UK providing support for all aspects of Down’s syndrome. The charity runs a range of services and programmes including the employment programme WorkFit which matches jobseekers who have Down’s syndrome with employers who have jobs to offer.
Sophie Hayes
Sophie Hayes Foundation works with women survivors of modern slavery and exploitation to rebuild and develop the skills and confidence to help them achieve self-sufficiency and independence. They focus on preventing re-exploitation — empowering survivors to live lives of freedom and autonomy for the long term.
By providing comprehensive accredited programmes which respond to needs in a complex and hostile environment, Sophie Hayes Foundation meets survivors where they are and takes them to where they want to be. They offer the longest-term support available to survivors in the UK with their year-long Employability Programme, as well as lifetime membership to the CREW Survivor Network. They have successfully supported over 700 women from over 72 countries in their journeys towards recovery and sustainable freedom.
St Giles Trust
St Giles Trust helps ex-offenders and people who are facing forms of severe disadvantage to give them a second chance. Working across the UK with major regional hubs in London, Leeds and Cardiff, it offers both practical and emotional support to help people overcome any issue which might be holding them back. A cornerstone of St Giles Trust’s work is training people who have first-hand experience of these issues to become qualified professionals. They are living proof of positive change and can engage those who are most in need of support.
Street League
Street League is the UK’s leading sport for employment charity. Their mission is to see an end to youth unemployment in the UK, and their award-winning programmes have supported 5,851 young people into work since 2010. Sport is integral to making Street League work – it brings people together, creates fitter bodies and fitter minds, teaches key skills like discipline, communication and team work and is one of the most powerful engagement tools when working with young people, particularly those who are hardest to reach.
Supporting Wounded Veterans
Supporting Wounded Veterans (SWV) supports medically discharged veterans, including those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, back into meaningful life and employment. Veterans have an average age of 39 and are battling with physical and mental injuries that have proved life-changing and shattering for them and their families.
Annually, around 1,500 personnel are discharged through physical and mental injury of which a small percentage will struggle to adapt to civilian life. These veterans need individualised support in order to avoid complex and multiple problems.
SWV’s six programmes including Sports Rehabilitation, Mentoring, and Pain Management address the root cause of the problems which have prevented rehabilitation and employment and their bespoke support continues for as long as it is required.
Working Chance
Working Chance is the UK's only employment charity solely for women with convictions. They help women with convictions to develop the confidence, skills and self-belief they need to overcome any barriers to their employment, find jobs and build careers, by providing employability support from CVs and interview practice to help disclosing a conviction and boosting confidence. They work with organisations of all sizes across all sectors to find opportunities for women that align with their skills and aspirations, breaking down the stigma, stereotypes and barriers that stop women with convictions getting jobs and progressing in careers.
Since 2009, Working Chance has supported thousands of women into employment and many more on their journeys towards financial independence. To women with convictions, a job is more than an income - it means a future where she and her family can flourish.