Funding Reopens for UK Charities Supporting NEET Young People and Adults

The CABWI Lifelong Learning and Development Fund — provided by CABWI, the awarding body for the water and utilities industries — has reopened for applications. The fund is managed by the CABWI charity and aims to help people gain the skills and confidence needed to move into employment.

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

Funding priorities include:

• Supporting young people who are NEET, or at risk of becoming NEET, to improve their access to work and the labour market.
• Working with individuals facing complex barriers to employment — including, but not limited to, ex-service personnel and ex-offenders — to help them move closer to or into work.
• Developing life skills that enable people to build their careers, with a particular focus on the water, utilities, and construction industries.

Grant amounts:

• Organisations with an annual income between £266,666 and £1 million can apply for grants of up to £40,000.
• Organisations with an income below £266,666 can apply for a grant of up to 15% of their previous year’s turnover.
• Funding can be used for core costs, project costs, or a combination of both.

CABWI will host a webinar for potential applicants on 7 January 2026 at 10:30am.

There is a two-stage application process:

• Expressions of Interest open on 5 January 2026 and close on 26 January 2026.

For full eligibility details and application guidance, visit the CABWI website:

CABWI Application Guidelines ↗

Make sure to review the application criteria before submitting your Expression of Interest.