Funding to Tackle Barriers to Employment and Skills Development

The CABWI Lifelong Learning and Development Fund is provided by CABWI, the awarding body for the water and utilities industries, and is managed by the CABWI charity.

Grants are available to registered charities in the UK that work directly with young people and adults who are not in employment, training, or education (NEET).

Funding priorities are:

• Working directly with young people who are either NEET or at risk of becoming NEET to improve their access to employment and the labour market.
• Reaching and working with individuals with complex barriers to employment, enabling them to move closer to or into employment, including (but not restricted to) ex-service personnel and ex-offenders.
• Increasing the life skills of people so that they may further develop their careers, with a particular focus on the water, utilities and construction industries.

Organisations with an income of:

• Between £266,666 and £1 million can apply for grants of up to £40,000.
• Up to £266,666 may apply for a maximum of 15% of their previous year’s turnover.

Funding can be used for core and/or project costs.

There is a two-stage application process.

Expressions of Interest are expected to open on 5 January 2026 and close on 26 January 2026.

Find out more

Information provided from Open 4 Community North Lincolnshire operated by Idox plc.