Shaw Trust Care and Construction Academies
£4.2m in funding was awarded to the Shaw Trust to establish the Care and Construction Academies, supporting the upskilling and reskilling of 2,000 people whose jobs have been impacted by Covid-19.
Both the care and construction sectors have experienced skills shortages and the Academies provide new pathways for employment.
The Academies will support anyone over 18 whose jobs have been impacted by Covid-19, regardless of ability or experience in the sectors. This includes:
- Losing a job.
- A reduction in hours and/or salary.
- Suffering from a decline in health and wellbeing as a direct result of Covid-19.
Support available includes:
- Impartial careers planning and guidance.
- Access to accredited training.
- Work experience.
- Employment training within current role.
- Undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship (pre-apprenticeships for young people).
- Wellbeing support.
- A Learner Support Fund is available to those with significant financial barriers
- Support for the development of functional skills (English, maths or digital skills) to complete any qualifications and training if required.
 “The launch of the Shaw Trust Care and Construction Academies will enable us to support more than 2,000 people to reskill rapidly.  This important new initiative, funded by the Covid-19 Support Fund, will open up new employment pathways through improving skills, qualifications and confidence in Health and Social Care and Construction. These are key sectors to support the recovery of the UK economy as well as build individual lives through good work.” – Chris Luck, CB MBE MA MPhil
About CAF
The Academies are being fully mobilised through Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) funding over a three-year period until March 2024.
The CAF Resilience Fund exists to help charitable organisations in England that support the people hardest hit by Covid-19. This fund will initially distribute more than £19 million made up of grants ranging from £10,000 to £100,000 to deliver rapid relief from the impact of Covid-19. Find out more about the CAF Resilience Fund.
 The emergence of a new and highly transmissible variant of Covid-19 has resulted in increased staffing shortages due to staff testing positive for Covid-19 or having to self-isolate.
In addition, some people being discharged from hospital may require complex or increased social care as they recover from Covid-19 and other illnesses.
– Department of Health and Social Care