Standard Chartered takes to the sky to launch Goal Accelerator girl-empowering programme

6 November 2024, London – Standard Chartered is excited to announce the launch of the Goal Accelerator, a new programme that will run in London and Liverpool under the Bank’s Futuremakers by Standard Chartered initiative. The launch event took place onboard the iconic London Eye on 11 October marking International Day of the Girl.

Over the next three years, this innovative 10-week programme aims to support over 200 young women and non-binary young people between the ages of 18-24 from underserved and underrepresented communities in London and Liverpool. It will use the power of sport to equip them with the essential skills to secure employment and contribute to the UK economy.

The UK labour market continues to face challenges in youth unemployment and gender gaps in workforce participation. Goal Accelerator is critical in addressing these issues by empowering young women to access economic opportunities they otherwise may not have. Research shows that when young women are employed and financially independent, there are significant benefits to local economies, including increased household spending, improved family health, and greater community development. Through Goal Accelerator, participants will aim to transition into employment, apprenticeships, or further education by the end of the programme. The programme is also expected to deliver a ripple-effect in communities, as participants become role models and economic contributors.

The programme is funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation and delivered in the UK by the charity, Street League. It is part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, Standard Chartered’s global youth economic empowerment initiative to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially women and people with disabilities, to learn, earn, and grow. The programme will be funded for three years to create tangible economic outcomes for participants. It will provide training in financial literacy, career development and industry insights, ensuring that young women and non-binary young people are prepared to navigate the complexities of the modern job market. With a focus on improving work readiness, participants will also receive career coaching and connections to job opportunities.

Sonia Rossetti, Regional Head Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, said: “At Standard Chartered, we believe that empowering young women is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes economic sense. The Goal Accelerator programme is about creating long-term economic opportunities for girls who disproportionately face barriers to employment. We’re delighted to be working with Street League in the UK to deliver the Goal Accelerator in London and Liverpool. We are leveraging their strength as a sports-for-employment charity, and our network of colleagues, clients and partners to create meaningful outcomes for all our participants.”

Kirsty Steven, Director of Operations at Street League, said: “We are so grateful for the support from Standard Chartered and the impact this partnership will have on so many young women across London and Liverpool over the next three years. Goal Accelerator is such an important and vital programme to ensure we are there for young women who face inequality and disadvantage in their daily lives. We recognise the increasing need to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive space for young women to gain essential skills and succeed in the world of work, and we are immensely excited about potential this partnership will have young women’s futures across the UK.”

The Goal Accelerator is an evolution of the successful Goal Programme that was first launched in the UK in 2019 and reached 892 girls and non-binary young people before July 2024. Goal Accelerator will retain the groundbreaking sport-powered, gender-responsive foundations of Goal to help young women develop critical employability skills such as teamwork, communication, resilience, and leadership. Combining physical activity with life skills education, it aims to address gender disparities in the workforce and foster economic independence for its young people.

At the launch event, the Bank invited the first ever cohort of Goal Accelerator participants from London and Liverpool to take part in speed mentoring with inspirational women and non-binary people. Forty Standard Chartered colleagues, clients and guests were among those invited to join other inspirational women and non-binary role models at an event to celebrate the power and potential of women and girls. The Bank is an event sponsor and will use its platform as WOW’s Global Girls Champion to amplify its work to tackle economic inequality and promote inclusion through Futuremakers programmes like the Goal Accelerator.

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Claire Newell
Head of Communications for UK and Europe
Tel: +44 (0)207 885 8857
Email: Claire.newell@sc.com

Standard Chartered
We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 52 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Futuremakers by Standard Chartered
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered (Futuremakers) is Standard Chartered Bank’s global youth economic empowerment initiative to tackle inequality and promote greater economic inclusion in the Group’s markets. Futuremakers supports disadvantaged young people, especially women and people with disabilities, to learn, earn, and grow. By 2030, Futuremakers aims to create and sustain 140,000 jobs by enabling young entrepreneurs and job-seekers to achieve economic power and participation. Visit sc.com/futuremakers

Standard Chartered Foundation
The Standard Chartered Foundation (SCF) is a charitable organisation that tackles inequality by promoting greater economic inclusion for disadvantaged young people, particularly young women and people with disabilities. Its programmes focus on employability and entrepreneurship, helping young entrepreneurs and jobseekers access the skills, networks, opportunities and support they need to achieve economic power and participation.

About Street League
Street League is a national UK charity with over 20 years’ experience of using sport and education to help young people into work. Street League supports young people holistically, recognising the inextricable links between wellbeing, health and employment. They use the unique power of sport to help young people, aged 14 to 30, who face personal barriers to employment to improve their wellbeing, secure employment and have a brighter future. They work with schools, in communities, and with employers to equip young people with the confidence, motivation, essential skills and qualifications needed to succeed in the world of work. For more information on Street League, visit streetleague.co.uk/.