Grants database

Offploy mentors individuals with criminal convictions who are in employment. The organisation seeks to create a definitive guide to mentoring in this specialist category. This grant will support a part-time staff member to develop this resource in consultation with a range of employers, ex-offenders and professionals in the criminal justice sector, and to devise standardised ex-offender recruitment policies for employers. Offploy will also use a portion of the funds to produce online resources for ex-offenders looking for work.

TrustYouth is a coalition made up of London Youth, Youth at Risk, Khulisa UK, NUS, TACT, Prospectus, The Foyer Federation and Three Point Zero. Collectively, their networks span housing, youth justice, youth work, fostering and adoption, further/​higher education and recruitment to the sector. TrustYouth’s vision is for all young people across the UK, particularly those experiencing challenges, to be able to harness the experiences they have had and use them to shape services that really work for them. This grant will support the coalition to research, plan and begin to deliver a campaign to further this vision.

Sheena Leaf is a trained mental health nurse and businesswoman. Her idea of a development programme to be delivered in prisons will help to unlock new opportunities on the path to rehabilitation. Participants will receive training and support from members of the local community to identify and develop their entrepreneurial skills. This will help to assist with their reintegration journey and generate self-sustaining employment in the future.

Martin Yates has been working in the area of self-directed support for almost 30 years. Offering information, advice and advocacy support, this project aims to help people who require health and social care to have choice, to take control of their support and to understand their rights under the Care Act 2014. This grant will support a series of awareness raising and consultation events in the North West throughout the pilot, culminating in a public launch.

Anneke Elwes’ extensive experience in market research and as a volunteer in the refugee sector has led her to set up HostNation. This digital befriending scheme aims to connect refugees, people who have migrated to the UK and asylum seekers with British citizens who would like to offer them support and friendship. She is supported by a team of volunteers with professional and lived experience within the sector.

Nicolas Hatton has been at the helm of The 3 Million, a group established to represent the interests of EU citizens living in the UK, since the UK’s referendum on its EU membership in June 2016. Led by mobile EU citizens in the UK, The 3 Million group have filled a crucial gap in the UK’s refugee and migrant sector during the post-referendum debate. The group has developed a strong brand and has a considerable media presence. The grant enables those involved to formalise their group as a national grassroots organisation that can run local and national campaigns about EU citizens’ rights and offer support to individuals.

Through bi-directional mentoring, UnAge will foster new micro businesses by harnessing the benefits of intergenerational activities. Young people will teach new ways to start businesses (e.g. use of technology) and older participants will share lived experience. Young people from Hackney Community College and older individuals from Age UK’s Whitmore Community Centre Employability Club will test the programme.

Led by activist Silke Grygier, Not The Only One will reach out to university students who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA). As a group, CSA survivors are often invisible, not only to society, but also to each other, and suffer from stigma and isolation. Through workshops, presentations, support groups, and open forums, Silke aims to create spaces for young survivors to come together, raise awareness and access specialist therapeutic support.

Developed by Holly Statton and Ono Dafedjaiye, PERKY aims to create a fun, safe space for learning disabled people to explore the themes of womanhood, the body and sexuality. It will challenge negative stereotypes and empower individuals to express themselves. PHF funding will support the establishment of the organisation and building partnerships for delivery.

Peace First is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping young people around the world to become peacemakers by investing in their ideas, providing them with tools and skills and sharing their stories. Inspired by conversations with UK organizations, Peace First is exploring the implementation of a UK Challenge, in which young people will be asked to identify and solve an injustice. The process will determine the best pathways for a Peace First Challenge that could impact thousands of young people across the UK.

Safer London works to prevent violence, sexual exploitation and vulnerability amongst young people across London. The grant will contribute to the salaries of the Director of Operations, Director of Development and the Chief Executive. It will increase the capacity of the senior leadership team, allowing Safer London to grow unrestricted income, capitalise on available opportunities and build a solid base for future growth and widening of impact.

National Working Group aims to stop the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and young people, and to improve support for those affected. It will grow its Youth Advisory Board from a centralised UK board to three regional boards. This will lead to enhanced youth advocacy within the child sexual exploitation sector and inform the organisation’s research, policy and campaigns. Learning will be disseminated across its network.