West Midlands awarded £500k to boost opportunities and support for young people

• Partnership with Fair Education Alliance will combine grant funding with support and bring together charities, businesses, schools, community groups and young people
• Part of a £6 million programme, supported by Bloomberg, to drive place-based collaboration across England

The Fair Education Alliance (FEA) has selected West Midlands Combined Authority as one of three Collaboration Partners in its £6 million Neighbourhood to National strategy. The announcement was made today at the Fair Education Summit, held in the Science Museum, London.

Working in partnership with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and his team, the partnership will focus on improving post-16 outcomes. It will bring together the 92 FEA member organisations working in the West Midlands with businesses, schools, young people and community groups to tackle longstanding educational inequities in the region.

As a Collaboration Partner, West Midlands Combined Authority will receive over £500,000 of grant funding and support to map local causes of inequity, test and refine new approaches, and consider the views of young people in every stage of decision-making. This will include piloting innovative interventions such as modern work experience frameworks, targeted mental health support, and inclusive employer standards. These solutions will be evaluated for impact and scaled across the region, creating a blueprint for national policy change.

Educational inequity remains a profound challenge: one in three children is growing up in poverty and children from low-income households are almost two years behind their peers by the end of secondary school. The West Midlands has one of the highest unemployment rates of any UK region, with 29,000 young people claiming employment-related benefits.

With a strong track record of partnering with cities across the UK and globally, Bloomberg brings unique expertise in convening leaders and stakeholders to accelerate systemic change. Bloomberg is joined by founding funder UBS, whose support for place-based change has been pivotal in progress for children and young people. Long-term FEA supporters A&O Shearman, Barclays LifeSkills, IG Group, Mission 44, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation are joined by The Dulverton Trust and Stratton Chase to ensure the success of this ambitious strategy.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

“I want young people to have the best start in life, no matter their background, and the backing of the Fair Education Alliance is a vote of confidence in our region that supports my mission to deliver just that. Investing in our young people in this way gives them the chance to achieve their full potential and help build our region's future prosperity." 

Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy, Bloomberg, said:

“Bloomberg is committed to expanding opportunities for young people, and the Neighbourhood to National Strategy reflects the kind of place-based leadership needed to drive lasting change. We’re proud to support the Fair Education Alliance and work alongside Mayors who are championing better outcomes for children and young people in the communities that need it most.”

Gina Cicerone, Co-CEO of the Fair Education Alliance, said:
“The challenges facing young people in the West Midlands demand urgent, collective action. That’s why this partnership places collaboration and innovation at its heart – working with Alliance members, Metro Mayors and communities to create long-term change. We’re looking forward to working together to deepen our understanding of what is working in the West Midlands – what resourcing and delivery truly improves outcomes for children and young people – helping to close a nationwide gap in understanding. Thanks to the support given by Bloomberg and other funding partners, we can connect neighbourhood to national and build a fairer future for every child in the West Midlands.”