Young People’s Programme

The Foundation is keen to support young people who have fallen through the gaps in support; are disengaged from or not in education, employment or training; and are vulnerable to exploitation, crime or gangs.

Funding work to benefit young people aged 12-21 who are facing difficult challenges and barriers to accessing support and opportunities.

Recent updates to the guidance in this programme, are that the Foundation aims to focus on those children who are considered persistently absent from school, those leaving school with no qualifications, and children and young people in/leaving care.

We aim to support work to help young people who are experiencing or may have already suffered significant issues within their lives, and those who may (or already have) ‘fall through the cracks’ without targeted support.

The priority is on those aged 12-21 who are disengaged from education or work, vulnerable to exploitation or high-risk behaviours, or socially excluded or marginalised; whose experiences can be hidden or less well known; and whose voices are often erased or ignored.

This may, for example, include pro-active youth clubs, activities for disaffected young people, or employment opportunities or experience which help young people to find structure.

Also organisations that focus their work on: young people within the criminal justice system or those at risk of offending; looked after children or care leavers; those with significant mental health concerns; young people who have been traumatised by challenging family backgrounds, neglect, violence or abuse; those that have fallen through the gaps in care and/or education; those already affected by, or vulnerable to, exploitation; or whose experiences could seriously impact their transition into adulthood.

We do not fund work where the main focus is neurodiversity.

We also do not fund work that takes place in schools.

The Foundation is not looking to fund general youth provision due to the limitation of available resource, but will consider both core or project funding of organisations whose work aligns with the aim of the programme.

Grants made within this programme include the funding of a crisis drop-in for young people who have been sexually abused in Dundee; a salary contribution for a mental health workers to run young people’s groups in Gateshead; a Rise and Thrive life and Employability Skills workshops for young female care leavers in the South West; a drama and arts project aimed at young people with a history of offending in Jaywick, Essex.

Please see below a selection of recent grants made.