About Us
Doing #SomethingConstructive for youth, community and volunteering
VIY combines DIY and volunteering (VIY!) by challenging young people aged 14-24 to help repair and refurbish community places and spaces, whilst learning vocational trade skills on the job.
VIY learners are mentored by professional tradespeople and can work towards and gain Entry Level City & Guilds trade skills accreditations. We work with young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) or at risk of disengagement/exclusion from mainstream education and training.
We’ve helped over 15,000 young people learn trade skills in our first decade.
How does it work?
Volunteering with VIY is like a free work experience opportunity.
It’s pretty simple – young people volunteer on a VIY project, where we’re renovating a vital community space in need of maintenance or improvement. They’re mentored and supported to work alongside professional tradespeople to complete the project as a team on site, as well as developing key life skills together.
They also have the opportunity to gain City & Guilds Entry Level 3 accreditations in skills like carpentry, painting & decorating, health & safety, tiling and brickwork.
We work with young people aged 14-24 (some age ranges may vary per programme), who may be NEET (not in education, employment or training), or deemed at risk of becoming so, including young people with special educational needs and/or a disability.
We’ve helped to transform over 800 local community places and spaces across the UK since we launched in 2011. That’s everything from youth clubs, community centres, schools and colleges, sports clubs, music and arts venues, and supported housing.
- Register with your local VIY Youth Engagement Co-ordinator, sharing relevant support needs to help us adapt our programme for each learner
- Bring a friend – our Vouch-for-a-Friend scheme means young people can receive a £10 Amazon voucher for referring someone to VIY
- Get prepped – each learner receives a Welcome Pack and call from us before they join to make sure they’re prepped and ready to join (with your support and encouragement too!)
For more information and to register email outreach@teamyviy.com
> Check out our upcoming projects in this area
Case Study
Honey was previously home-schooled then found herself NEET at 16. She joined the NEET re-engagement provision at City College Norwich to build her confidence and explore progression options for the future. Honey struggled in the classroom environment finding staying focused challenging. Honey pushed herself outside of her comfort zone to give the VIY project at Drayton Road, Norwich, a try – turns out she loved it! Honey really enjoyed being practical and getting stuck in. As a result, Honey is now training in Level 1 Painting & Decorating at City College Norwich!
I’m now loving my decorating course.
I found this experience eye opening. I have never tried practical work before but have loved it! VIY has given me a career direction and I can’t wait to start my next course in Painting & Decorating at college. The mentors have been great, and I have really enjoyed working with new people. "
- Honey, Norwich
