£100k funding for youth social action
Youth-focused organisations working in communities within three miles of Sovereign Housing Association homes are being invited to get involved with the Sovereign #iwill Fund.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects that focus on youth social action to apply – applications open 18 July 2022 and close 5 August 2022. Sovereign’s Youth panel, made up of 18-25-year-old residents, will be involved in deciding which projects are awarded grants.
Alongside the Sovereign #iwill Fund grants, Sovereign is launching the Sovereign #iwill Youth Network, in partnership with Creative Youth Network, to create a learning environment for organisations and young people interested in youth social action.
Organisations will be able to join the network, whether they have been funded through the Sovereign #iwill Fund or not to access support, training, Innovation Labs and networking.
The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to a £54 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. Sovereign is acting as an #iwill Fund match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund.
Helen Whyman, Head of the #iwill Fund at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “The work of the #iwill Fund has an incredible impact on young people, making them feel empowered to take an active role in helping their communities prosper and thrive. Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to support young people to make a real and positive difference to the communities they live in.”
Daisy Mummery, Sovereign’s #iwill Fund Project Manager, added: “The #iwill Fund found that, whilst many young people care about making the world a better place and believe they can make a difference, only 4 in 10 young people are currently participating in meaningful social action when surveyed.
“That’s why we’re so pleased to have been given funding from the #iwill Fund, so we can give organisations in our communities grants and support that enables young people to make a positive difference in their area and develop their own skills.”
For more information and to apply for the Sovereign #iwill Fund grants and Sovereign #iwill Youth Network, please visit www.sovereign.org.uk/sovereign-iwill-fund
