Introducing 2027

The grant-giving sector is responsible for providing £12.9bn of funding each year, to people and organisations to help them run projects that positively impact the community.  It’s a sector that is good at speaking about and tackling social inequality, and the value of all people in bringing about social change.  But it’s also a sector that recognises the need to hire and develop people with more diverse perspectives who have lived or worked in the kind of communities they seek to help.

And so 2027 exists as a programme to achieve this: to hire, develop and support anybody passionate about forging a career that helps them serve communities through grant-giving, and has some lived experience of being “working-class” and working in the community.  If you’re looking to develop a career with more influence on enacting change, this could be the opportunity for you.

[2027 has been] authentic and developmental in every sense of the word. If I had to pick [my] best part, mentorship would be it. My mentor is always available to speak with me and offers words of guidance and wisdom as I navigate my first year in the grant-making sector.

Yvonne, 2027 Associate, Esmeé Fairbairn

Our employers

In your new job in grant-making, you’ll be working for one of our highly regarded Foundation & Trust partners – grant-making organisation responsible for providing funding to other individuals or organisations, to enable them to run projects that positively impact the community.

In the last 4 years, more than 20 Foundations or Trusts have taken part in 2027 and some examples include Children in Need, National Lottery Community Fund, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Sport England, City Bridge Trust and NHS Community Trust

My personal and professional experience…is valued and I am encouraged to share my insights in decision making conversations

Maeve, 2027 Associate, Children In Need

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for people who:

1. are passionate about serving communities and interested in taking the next step in your career, to work towards developing your influence in deciding how funding is spent.  

2. have at least 2 years of experience working directly in the community in any frontline position, whether in a job or as a volunteer.  You might, for example, be a teaching assistant, nurse practitioner, PCSO, community worker or volunteer, young offending panelist or any similar role where you have direct contact with your community.

3. self identify as being from a working-class community, because we want you to bring that lived experience to the job.

Find out more about the things we think will be really important to your success on the programme that we think about when we’re assessing candidates, by clicking here to download our brochure.

Who can apply for 2027?

Our 2027 Associates are from all backgrounds but they’re usually people passionate about taking some frontline experience, looking for a fresh challenge and stepping up their contribution on a broader scale. They want to develop their careers, and they want to help communities to thrive:

We’ve welcomed former community volunteers, community nurses, PCSOs, childcare workers, recent graduates with voluntary experience, young offending team workers, carers, appropriate adults, charity workers, healthcare assistants and many more.

Timeline

Apply now

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