Lead the Change - Expression of Interest

Who Can Apply

Lead the Change is open to registered not-for-profit organisations in the UK that:

• Meet The London Community Foundation’s eligibility criteria, see below for full guidance

• Have an annual turnover of no more than £2m, unless you are a domestic abuse refuge or hospice

• Have at least three trustees/members of the governing body

• Deliver work in one of the 27 target places (for London this is Croydon)

• Work with children and young people aged 18 years and under

• Work in the heart of their communities and are trusted by young people

• Work in and are based in one of the eligible areas (for London this is Croydon)

• Put the voices, experiences and skills of children and young people at the centre of everything they do, from design to delivery

• Can demonstrate strong safeguarding and trauma-informed practice

• Are keen to keep learning about and developing their work with children and young people

• Have at least three unrelated board/governing body members

What the Programme Will Fund

Lead the Change will fund work that strengthens local relationships, builds confidence and belonging, and gives young people the tools to lead change. We are keen to fund organisations that will support young people to drive positive change in their communities informed by local priorities. Projects could include:

• Safe spaces for young people to meet and connect – youth clubs, sports, creative and cultural spaces.

• Youth-led community action and resilience – co-designed projects, leadership development, intercultural initiatives to bring people together.

• Pathways to opportunity – skills development, mentoring, training and connection to training or apprenticeships.

• Narrative change and digital literacy – tackling misinformation and disinformation, storytelling and youth-created content. What the Programme Cannot Fund

What the Programme Cannot Fund

• Core costs (reasonable evidenced overheads are OK as part of the budget for your project application)

• Individuals

• Organisations without adequate safeguarding, governance or financial processes

• Companies limited by shares or any profit making non-charitable entity

• Local authorities, schools, NHS bodies, hospitals, prisons or other statutory agencies

• Housing Associations

• CICs limited by Shares (or any non-charitable CIC)

• Work that statutory bodies have a duty to fund

• Medical treatment or research

• Pregnancy testing or advice, information, or counselling on pregnancy choices

• Work promoting religion or political parties, or any political activity or direct lobbying

• Political Parties

• Awareness-raising work, except where targeted at children or young people most at risk

• Capital costs for large items, renovations, refurbishments or building projects (small project related capital items are acceptable, but cannot form a significant portion of the budget)

• Bursaries, sponsored places, fees, or similar costs

• Trips abroad or any activity taking place outside of the UK

• Holidays

• Retrospective costs (any work that has already taken place, or costs incurred, prior to the date of your grant offer letter)

• Unspecified expenditure

• General appeals, endowments or debt repayment

• Projects unable to start within three months of the grant award date

• Projects already funded through other means

• Any activity that is already being funded through another CF or CIN grant. We cannot fund the same activity twice. All applications should clearly demonstrate that they are either for different work, or for work with a different cohort of children and young people

What Applicants Must Demonstrate

• Close alignment with the aims of Lead the Change

• A track record of working within their community and ability to show how their project will create meaningful, measurable change for local children and young people.

• The strength of youth leadership and voice within their organisation (in design and/or delivery and/or governance)

• Relevance to target communities (young people impacted by xenophobia, racism, and islamophobia) and programme aims.

• Safeguarding and trauma-informed practice, capacity to deliver and sustain impact and a commitment to the six principles of high-quality youth social action

• We particularly welcome applications from organisations led by people most impacted by xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia.

• Strong local connections, including lived experience, community leadership, or volunteer involvement from the children, young people, and families they support

• Capacity to deliver safely and sustainably