Leasing Foundation selects Coach Core as its 2025 charity partner

The Leasing Foundation has announced Coach Core as its charity partner for 2025. This partnership, supported by the Leasing Foundation’s Giving Network, aligns the asset finance industry with a cause deeply rooted in social mobility, youth development, and community impact.

A platform for giving back: The Leasing Foundation’s Giving Network

The Giving Network, established by the Leasing Foundation, is a cornerstone initiative designed to champion philanthropy within the asset finance sector. Each year, the Network selects a charity to support, leveraging corporate sponsorships, workplace giving, and community engagement to create meaningful impact.

By focusing on smaller charities, the Foundation ensures its efforts generate maximum impact, benefiting both the chosen organisations and the asset finance community.

Why Coach Core?

For 2025, the Leasing Foundation has chosen Coach Core, an independent charity that uses sports-based apprenticeships to empower young people facing barriers. Operating across 21 UK cities, Coach Core has supported over 1,000 apprentices, creating ripple effects through their communities.

Laybourne is particularly excited about the partnership with the Leasing Foundation: “This collaboration allows us to engage with brilliant organisations and leaders in the asset finance industry. Their skills, insights, and time can make a real difference—not just to our young people but also to us as a charity.”

Building on success: reflecting on 2024’s charity partnership

The Foundation’s 2024 partnership with Beyond, a youth mental health charity, showcased the transformative potential of the Giving Network. With over £27,000 raised, the collaboration provided critical mental health support while offering tailored services to individuals and families within the asset finance industry.

This approach of fostering two-way partnerships—where charities benefit from funding and expertise, and businesses gain insight and engagement—sets the stage for another impactful year with Coach Core.

Plans for 2025: amplifying impact

The partnership will officially kick off at the Leasing Foundation Senior Leaders Drinks on 5th February. Planned initiatives include Coach Core-led events such as sports days and awards ceremonies, culminating in the Leasing Foundation’s Summer Fundraising Gala in June at the Royal Exchange.

As Laybourne notes, the collaboration goes beyond fundraising: “We aim to expose apprentices to the incredible career opportunities available, from media to finance to medicine. This is about equipping young people with both employment skills and a broader understanding of the professional world.”

The Leasing Foundation’s Mel Chell agrees, emphasising the alignment of Coach Core’s mission with the Foundation’s networks, including those focused on diversity, inclusion, and next-generation leadership.

The role of business in driving social impact

Both Chell and Laybourne highlight the importance of businesses embracing their social responsibilities. With nearly one million young people unemployed in the UK—a figure rising post-pandemic—there’s an urgent need for industry leaders to step up.

Chell remarks: “Younger generations increasingly demand purpose-driven organisations. Through initiatives like the Giving Network, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to ESG principles, engage employees, and make a tangible difference in society.”

Laybourne adds: “We’re fast approaching a generational crisis in the UK. Partnerships like this one are not just opportunities—they’re necessities for addressing youth unemployment and creating lasting change.”

A call to action

As the Giving Network evolves, the Leasing Foundation aims to deepen its impact, encouraging members to actively engage with chosen charities. Beyond financial contributions, the Foundation envisions a culture of giving that fosters collaboration and long-term value.

“This partnership is a chance for the asset finance industry to come together, make a difference, and show what can be achieved through collective effort,” says Chell.

For Laybourne, the excitement is palpable: “The potential here is immense. If we maximise this partnership, the outputs will be huge—not just for the young people we serve but for the industry as a whole.”

Looking ahead

The Leasing Foundation and Coach Core’s partnership promises to set a new standard for charity-business collaboration. With a shared commitment to driving social mobility and community impact, 2025 is shaping up to be a transformative year for both organisations—and the communities they serve.