What we fund
We work to empower students in the West Midlands to succeed in education and beyond
We believe passionately that the opportunities open to young people should not be limited by where they live or by their family background.
The Foundation funds programmes that help young people succeed in school, pursue further education, and secure fulfilling work for a better quality of life.
Due to the Rigby family’s strong ties to the West Midlands, this region is the Foundation's priority with a particular focus on central and south Birmingham.
Our Research
The city of Birmingham is ranked the 7th most deprived local authority in England. It is also the youngest major city in Europe, with nearly 40% of the city’s population aged under 25 years.
However in a report entitled ‘A new deal for young people in the West Midlands', that we commissioned through the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), we found that:
- Over 130,000 children in Birmingham are living in poverty.
- Students in the West Midlands missed more school during Covid-19 than other young people in the country and that has had a lasting impact.
- The region still has one of the highest proportions of people who have no qualifications.
- Almost one in five young people in Birmingham are unemployed, which is much higher than the national average.
However, we were also not surprised to find that young people have aspirations and they want to succeed - they just need some support.
Birmingham has a rich array of successful companies located within its geography. It is also the second largest financial services sector in the country and the West Midlands has just under a fifth of all finance roles in England.
Despite this, research has found there to be a lack of work experience opportunities available in the West Midlands and over half of the young people that the CSJ interviewed, identified work experience as the single biggest thing that could make a difference to their employment prospects.
We see a unique opportunity to help propel the city forward, but only if young people in the area are equipped and skilled to release their full potential. The Rigby Foundation therefore supports charity partners that help young people build their employability skills and access good quality work experience, as well as meaningful opportunities to learn about the workplace.
Nearly
40%
City’s population aged under 25
Over
103 000
Children living in poverty
Almost
1 in 5
Young people unemployed
“Ambition in our young must be matched with an environment that allows them to prosper locally in well paid roles, so it is clear then that there is a great need in the West Midlands for a new approach to helping the next generation to thrive, and the Rigby Family want to be a part of the solution.”
Steve Rigby | Chair of the Rigby Foundation
