Grosvenor has today announced the launch of Positive Futures, a new £5 million commitment designed to provide support, skills and meaningful work opportunities to over 3,000 people in Westminster by 2030. The programme will prioritise vulnerable young people and residents facing barriers to employment, helping to create more equal opportunities in one of the UK’s most economically polarized boroughs.
 
 Positive Futures aims to help tackle these challenges by widening access to opportunities and helping to create fairer, more inclusive pathways into work.
 
The initiative brings together direct action from Grosvenor’s business operations and philanthropic investment delivered in close partnership with the Westminster Foundation an independent charitable organisation representing the philanthropic activity of the Duke of Westminster and Grosvenor businesses. This combined approach will mobilise Grosvenor’s customers, supply chain, spaces and sector networks to expand access to meaningful work and entrepreneurship opportunities.
 
 A major focus of Positive Futures will be supporting vulnerable young people in Westminster. Working with the Westminster Foundation, Grosvenor will help equip young people with skills, confidence and support to envision and achieve aspirational futures.
 
As part of the programme, Grosvenor will fund a new lead charity partner focused on supporting young people with experience of the care system, Catch22, alongside additional charitable organisations including The Brokerage, expanding opportunities for young people across the borough.

Jamie Whitty Lewis, CEO of Grosvenor Property UK said: ‘We passionately believe that the best places are inclusive places. For all the architectural beauty, green parks, entertainment, job opportunities and economic growth that Westminster offers, the borough is also home to significant pockets of deprivation. We are proud to launch our new Positive Futures Programme’ to provide support, skills and meaningful work opportunities to over 3,000 people in Westminster by 2030. Working with our customers, partners and our people we can provide more support and opportunities to help build better outcomes for those that don’t currently benefit from the amazing success story that is Westminster.’

Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said: “Positive Futures is a fantastic initiative that will help more young people in Westminster benefit from the economic opportunities that are available in the city. By focusing on young people and residents who face the biggest barriers, this programme will give them the skills, confidence and support they need to get good jobs.

“Westminster’s Skills Framework sets out how we can work with employers to deliver skills programme that respond directly to industry needs. I am proud to support this programme by Grosvenor to create pathways into meaningful careers for young people.”

Kate Brown, Director of the Westminster Foundation, added: “As a place‑based funder in Westminster, we work alongside trusted local partners to encourage collaboration and help tackle the conditions that keep inequalities entrenched. Supporting life skills through one of our core themes - education and career readiness - is central to our work, because the moments when young people transition between primary and secondary schools or from education into work can shape their futures for years to come. Positive Futures is a powerful example of what’s possible when philanthropy is paired with Grosvenor’s reach and ability to mobilise networks to open up meaningful opportunities. We are delighted to support this partnership collaboration with Grosvenor, Catch22, and The Brokerage. This initiative is a direct response to the expressed needs and desires of young people in Westminster, aiming to empower them to fully realise their potential.”

Naomi Hulston, CEO of Catch22, said: “Our partnership with Grosvenor is all about creating real, lasting opportunities for care‑experienced young people in Westminster. At Catch22, we have deep expertise in supporting young people who face significant barriers to employment - whether that's due to disrupted education, health struggles, lack of networks or low confidence - and helping them overcome those challenges to find good, sustainable work. By combining our expertise with Grosvenor’s long‑term commitment to place and opportunity, we can open doors to jobs, careers and ultimately more positive futures.”

Notes to Editors

Deprivation in Westminster:

Despite its global reputation for economic vibrancy, the City of Westminster experiences acute and localised deprivation. Over 42% of residents live in poverty after housing costs, far above the England average of around 22%^[1]. More than half of Westminster’s neighbourhoods (around 53%) fall within the most deprived 50% of areas nationally, with several ranking among the worst deciles on the Index of Multiple Deprivation^[2]. Child poverty is also entrenched, affecting 36% of children in the borough, compared with roughly 30% nationally.^[3] Westminster City Council acknowledges that these inequalities translate into severe health outcomes: men in the most deprived parts of the borough live up to 18 years less than those in the least deprived areas, one of the widest life expectancy gaps in England.

About Catch22

Catch22 is a long-established UK social business and charity that designs and delivers more than 120 public services supporting people at every stage of the social welfare cycle. Its work spans employment and training, alternative education, apprenticeships, justice and rehabilitation services, children’s social care, health and wellbeing, and protection against exploitation. Each year, Catch22 supports over 140,000 people, building resilience, aspiration and safer futures for individuals and communities. The organisation takes a partnership led approach, working closely with local authorities and commissioners to address disadvantage and create routes into stable, fulfilling lives.

About The Brokerage

The Brokerage is a leading London‑based social mobility charity dedicated to breaking down barriers to professional careers for young people aged 16–25. It empowers diverse and less‑advantaged young people to access opportunities through skills development, mentoring, employability programmes, paid internships and direct connections with corporate employers. The organisation works with businesses across the City and beyond to change recruitment practices and widen access to talent, helping create a workforce where ability and aspiration — not background — determine a young person’s future. More than 83,000 young people have been supported through its programmes, with consistently high levels of positive outcomes and employer engagement.