Legal & funding framework
Second Corner is run by Empath CIC and operates inside a well-defined legal and funding framework. This page sets out the legislation we follow, our structure as a Community Interest Company, and the pathways that connect under-16 work into apprenticeships and council-funded support at 16+.
Legislation we operate under
- Children and Young Persons Act 1933 — original framework for the protection of working children.
- Children and Young Persons Act 1963 — extends and updates the 1933 Act.
- Children (Protection at Work) Regulations 1998 — implements the EU Young Workers Directive.
- Lambeth Employment of Children Byelaws 2014 — the local rules we apply in our pilot borough.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 — places explicit duties on employers in relation to young workers' inexperience, awareness of risk and maturity.
See the practical implications in Work permits and Working hours & permitted work.
Empath CIC — our legal structure
Second Corner is a project of Empath CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England & Wales (company number 15953119). A CIC is a non-profit form regulated by the CIC Regulator with an asset lock — assets and surpluses must be used for the community purpose, not distributed to private owners.
This structure means Empath qualifies under Lambeth's Early Intervention & Prevention Services (EIPS) grant criteria, which require: a voluntary, charitable, CIC or non-profit company structure; a Lambeth base; at least two unrelated board members; a UK bank account in the organisation's name; and annual (or draft) accounts.
Where the money can come from
- Social value packages from businesses winning public contracts — the primary funding source for stipends, mentors and operations.
- Local authority early-intervention grants (e.g. Lambeth EIPS) for Lambeth-based, multi-year community work with young people.
- Restricted philanthropic funding for specific cohorts or boroughs.
None of these funding lines change the rule on the main ethics page: the young person never pays for anything, and Empath does not take a cut of their stipend.
What happens at 16+
Second Corner's remit is 13–16. From 16, young people who are no longer in full-time education can move into an apprenticeship — a real job with structured training, a salary from day one, paid holidays and recognised qualifications. We sign-post directly into Lambeth Working's apprenticeship coordinator (020 7926 5966 / apprenticeships@lambeth.gov.uk) and to apprenticeships on GOV.UK.
Eligible apprentices aged 18+ in London can also apply for an Apprentice Oyster photocard for discounted travel during the first 12 months of their apprenticeship.