VIY named as delivery partner for National Grid's £5m Power Within youth programme

Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) has been selected as a delivery partner for National Grid's £5m Power Within programme, joining The King's Trust and Fedcap in a scheme that aims to support 5,000 young people who are not in employment, education or training.

VIY announced the appointment on 27 October. It said Power Within aims to help young people build practical skills, gain qualifications and develop the confidence to move towards employment, with the goal running to 2031.

Cordi O'Hara, Executive President, National Grid UK, said: "Power Within is about working with experienced partners to provide practical support that reflects what young people need to help them progress."

She added: "The King's Trust, VIY and Fedcap each bring different strengths and experience that together can help thousands of young people develop the skills and confidence to progress."

The programme

The government announced National Grid's commitment on 2 August 2026, framing it as backing the Prime Minister's education reforms. According to GOV.UK, the fund is formally called the Power Within Employability Fund and will support up to 1,000 young people a year across the UK, starting in the first half of 2027. GOV.UK describes the commitment as supporting 5,000 NEET young people over the next five years, to be delivered through specialist employment and skills partners.

Support under the fund includes Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards, help to gain a driving licence where transport is a barrier to employment, and CV writing, interview preparation and communication skills, according to the GOV.UK release. Participants will have access to employment opportunities including with National Grid and its UK supplier network.

Zoë Yujnovich, Chief Executive, National Grid, said in the government release that the company was launching the fund to help "around 5,000" young people not in education or work.

VIY's model

Tim Reading, VIY's chief executive, said partnering with National Grid on Power Within was "a really strong fit" for the organisation. He said VIY's current nationwide delivery gives NEET young people the chance to gain hands-on skills, mentoring, qualifications and work experience while renovating and retrofitting local community spaces and venues.

VIY is a Community Interest Company, number 09537026, according to its own website. Impetus, which invests in the organisation, describes it as providing targeted on-the-job construction training to young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET, under professional industry mentors. Participants can gain a City & Guilds and/or NOCN accredited qualification, and Impetus says 89% of VIY projects are located in the 30% most deprived neighbourhoods.

In its release, VIY said its work to refine its model, supported by partners including Impetus, particularly targets growing skills gaps in construction and the associated infrastructure and energy sectors.

Impetus announced on 19 February 2026 an initial one-year investment of £100K in VIY through its Skills Fund. At the time, Reading said the partnership would allow VIY to better support its learners, "especially those aged 16+ and NEET".

The other partners

Fedcap describes itself on its website as a purpose-driven not-for-profit organisation embedded in the local communities it serves across the UK. The naming of the three delivery partners rests on VIY's release, which carries the National Grid executive's quote.

According to GOV.UK, delivery under the Power Within Employability Fund is due to start in the first half of 2027.