Almost £500,000 awarded to connect Sunderland’s young people to jobs of the future 

Eight Sunderland organisations are set to support more than 1,100 young people to develop the skills, confidence, industry insights and connections they need to move into good work, having been awarded a share of £473,276 through the Connecting Futures grants programme.

Connecting Futures is a funder collaboration between The Rank Foundation and The Greggs Foundation, created to improve young people’s life chances and raise their career aspirations in the city.  

The fund aims to close the gap between emerging industries and the young talent within Sunderland that too often goes unnoticed. The remainder of the £500,000 will be used to document young people’s experience and evaluate the progress of the eight organisations in supporting young people’s pathways. 

After years industrial decline, many young people struggle to see themselves in the new opportunities being created. Connecting Futures aims to change that by backing projects with direct connections to real jobs and employers, and by helping young people build practical skills for growth sectors including digital, green tech, advanced manufacturing and screen industries. 

Demand for Connecting Futures was high, thirty organisations applied and eight were approved. According to the local grant-making panel, the quality of proposals was extremely strong, demonstrating once again that Sunderland is full of potential and ambition.  

With more investment, the programme could have supported more high-quality ideas. The funders hope this group will provide the results and evidence needed to attract additional investment so they can extend the programme beyond 2027. 

The successful projects present a balanced mix of creative industry exposure, hands-on technical training, specialist mentoring and employer engagement. Several organisations plan to work together to reach young people in underserved parts of the city, including the coalfields, ensuring a wider range of young people can access emerging opportunities. 

The eight successful proposals are:  

1. Lambton Street Youth & Community Hub – rooted in Sunderland West, with a focus on apprenticeships in music and dance. 
2. Community Opportunities – experienced in providing youth-led programmes and employability work across the city. 
3. The Bunker – a grassroots group using music to inspire, build confidence, improve mental health, and create pathways to education and employment. 
4. Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust – offers placements, technical skills training and a range of personal and professional opportunities for young people seeking a career in the theatre, performance, and creative industries sectors. 
5. British Esports Federation – a national body based in Sunderland breaking down the barriers to entry into locally available esports careers with specialist training. 
6. Sunderland Music, Arts & Culture Trust – uses culture as a tool for local regeneration including development of music, arts and performance spaces.  
7. We Make Culture – provides music experiences and confidence building to young people across the city.  
8. Media Savvy – works with young people on the fringes of mainstream education, focus on development for the emerging digital AI sector. 

The decision-making panel included eight local people, four of whom were under 25 years old to ensure young people had a say in funding their peers’ future.  

The Connecting Futures programme is one part of a £1.5 million three-year commitment to Sunderland from The Rank Foundation. While much of the funding has been committed, local groups can still apply for initiatives including: 

• Reaching Potential training bursaries, offering up to £1,000 for individuals and £3,000 for VCSE organisations 
• ‘Time to Shine’, providing one-year paid work placements in the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 
• A new participatory micro-grants programme being developed in partnership with the Community Foundation North East 
• Sunderland Profit for Good 2026, which will support aspiring social enterprises with startup grants, training and mentoring. 

Paul Callaghan CBE, Chair, Connecting Futures Working Group said: 

“Sunderland is full of extraordinary talent and potential, in fact, it is one of this city’s greatest strengths. What too often holds our young people back is not ability, but opportunity. Connecting Futures is changing that. By bringing employers, educators, creative organisations and communities together, we are building the pathways that help young people see a future for themselves in the industries growing right here on their doorstep. This programme shows what happens when the city collaborates with purpose: confidence grows, ambition rises and young people realise they belong in the jobs of the future. Working together, we can unlock Sunderland’s full potential.” 

Lisa Laws, Development Director, North East Screen said: 

It’s been a privilege to work alongside The Rank Foundation and witness the incredible grassroots work happening in Sunderland. Helping young people imagine different futures for themselves is essential – and seeing a future career in the screen or wider creative industries is hugely important. The North East has seen production grow by 131% over the past three years, and with studio developments on the horizon, that momentum will continue. Providing early exposure to careers in this industry, combined with activity that builds creativity and resilience is vital to ensure local people are empowered to seize opportunities.