Pretoria, South Africa – 26 November 2025 — The JLR Foundation has announced the awarding of its first charitable grants, marking a significant milestone in the luxury automotive manufacturer’s deepening commitment to youth empowerment, education and long-term community impact. The grants have been allocated to four founding charity partners working across the West Midlands and North West England—regions where almost 15% of young people are classed as NEET (not in education, employment or training).
Established earlier this year, the JLR Foundation is dedicated to helping underserved children and young adults thrive in school, in their communities and in the world of work. Central to its mission is tackling the systemic barriers that lead young people to disengage from education or struggle to secure employment. Alongside strategic funding, the Foundation will draw on the scale, skills and insights of JLR’s workforce to strengthen its partners’ capabilities and outcomes.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are currently NEET, with lack of training, experience and accessible routes into employment among the most significant obstacles. As an employer with thousands of workers across Halewood, Solihull, Castle Bromwich and Wolverhampton, JLR is acutely aware of the challenges faced by the communities it serves—communities where youth unemployment rates sit above the national average.
Four Partners Driving Lasting Impact
To help shift these outcomes, the JLR Foundation has selected four charities already delivering measurable progress in breaking cycles of poverty, disadvantage and disengagement:
Right to Succeed
A leader in collective community action, the organisation supports children in some of England’s most deprived areas. Grant funding will focus on two communities neighbouring JLR’s Halewood and Castle Bromwich sites, helping transform life chances through coordinated, evidence-led intervention.
OnSide Youth Zones
Known for its vibrant, purpose-built youth centres, OnSide provides young people with safe, inspiring spaces and high-quality mentorship. The JLR Foundation will specifically support The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton, expanding its ability to offer skills-building programmes and confidence-boosting activities.
DFN Project SEARCH
A pioneering supported-internship model, DFN Project SEARCH equips young adults with learning disabilities for meaningful employment. With expanding programmes in the West Midlands, Liverpool City Region and beyond, the grant will help scale employer-based training that leads to long-term career outcomes.
Get Further
Focused on academic progression, Get Further delivers small-group tuition in English and Maths to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The support enables learners to secure essential gateway qualifications, unlocking access to further study, apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
Building Pathways, Unlocking Potential
Laura Brown, Director of the JLR Foundation, said the partnerships reflect the organisation’s long-term vision:
“We are proud to partner with four exceptional charities who are already delivering real change for young people in JLR communities. These partnerships reflect our commitment to learning, collaboration and long-term impact. Together, we will help tackle key issues that hold back their life chances, helping to unlock potential and build brighter futures.”
This new chapter builds on JLR’s decades-long presence within these regions and its continued investment in economic and social development. The company has long supported local businesses, apprenticeships, educational outreach and grassroots charities. With the Foundation’s launch, that commitment expands even further.
Andrea Debbane, JLR’s Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasised the opportunity to amplify impact:
“The JLR Foundation enables us to broaden our impact and go deeper, by providing these remarkable charities with the funds they need to grow so they can change more young people’s lives.”
A Collective Commitment to Change
JLR has pledged to make annual donations to the JLR Foundation to support a growing portfolio of charities addressing the needs of underserved youth. The programme will be strengthened by employee involvement—an area where JLR already demonstrates impressive engagement. In 2024, employees contributed more than 34,000 volunteering hours and raised substantial funds for local causes.
Through strategic philanthropy, employer-led support and longstanding community presence, the JLR Foundation aims to empower thousands more young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to build fulfilling futures.
With its first grants officially awarded, the Foundation begins its journey with a clear purpose: to uplift the next generation and ensure that every young person—regardless of background—has the chance to thrive.
