Lead the Change – Plymouth

Devon Community Foundation

Award

Amount not published

Deadline

Rolling — apply any time

Where

Not stated

Summary

Full details

LEAD THE CHANGE - PLYMOUTH Lead the Change is a three-year programme supporting young people to take a leading role in strengthening relationships, fostering understanding and building a sense of belonging in their communities. The programme is led by BBC Children in Need in partnership with UK Community Foundations and a group of national funders. It responds to growing challenges facing young people, including feeling unheard, socially disconnected, and exposed to harmful or misleading content online. Lead the Change invests in youth leadership, community connection and opportunity — supporting youth-led projects, creating safe spaces, and helping young people build skills to navigate online spaces and shape positive narratives. Grants available • Grant amount: £123,353 per organisation • Grant length: 3 years • Location: Plymouth What can be funded? Lead the Change will fund work that strengthens local relationships, builds confidence and belonging, and supports young people to lead change in their communities, informed by local priorities. Applicants will be required to demonstrate: • Strong youth leadership and meaningful youth voice within their organisation • Relevance to target communities — particularly young people impacted by xenophobia, racism and islamophobia • Safeguarding and trauma-informed practice • Commitment to the six principles of high-quality youth social action This may include • Safe spaces for young people to meet and connect, such as youth clubs, sports, creative and cultural spaces. • Youth‑led community action and resilience, including co‑designed projects, leadership development, intercultural initiatives to bring people together. • Pathways to opportunity, such as skills development, mentoring, training and connection to training or apprenticeships. • Narrative change and digital literacy that might involve tackling misinformation and disinformation, storytelling and youth-created content. We particularly welcome applications from organisations led by people most impacted by xenophobia, racism and islamophobia. What we are looking for In your application, we’re looking to understand: • How your work aligns with the aims of Lead the Change • Your experience of working with your community and the difference your project will make for children and young people • How young people are meaningfully involved in shaping and leading your work • How your work connects with young people impacted by xenophobia, racism and islamophobia • How you approach safeguarding and trauma-informed practice • Your ability to deliver the work well and create lasting impact • Your commitment to high-quality youth social action • The strength of your local connections, including lived experience and community involvement We particularly welcome applications from organisations led by people most impacted by xenophobia, racism and islamophobia. Application process We are using a two-stage application process for this programme. Stage 1 application Stage 1 is open from 1 April to 30 April 2026. This is a short application where we ask for basic information about your organisation, a brief overview of your proposed work, and initial safeguarding confirmation. We are sharing this opportunity openly, and we will also be reaching out directly to some organisations as part of our ongoing Getting to Know You process, our approach to building relationships with organisations and getting to know their work. You are welcome to make a Stage 1 application whether or not you have been contacted by us. What happens next If your application is successful, you will be invited to submit a Stage 2 (full) application. Invitations may be issued on a rolling basis as assessments are completed. Invitations will be issued no later than 13 May 2026, and you will be given a minimum of four weeks to develop and submit your proposal. The deadline for Stage 2 applications will be 10 June 2026. Once Stage 2 applications have been submitted, they will be shortlisted and reviewed by a range of panels, including young people, over a six-week period (6 July – 17 August). Final decisions will be made following this process, and we will share outcomes with applicants from the beginning of September. For more details information – please read the Applicant Guidance Notes Please note that the criteria for the Lead the Change grants differ from our standard eligibility. If your organisation is not eligible for a Lead the Change grant, you are welcome to check our wider eligilibilty through our Getting to Know You process Lead the Change Eligibility Checklist Complete these questions to check if you are eligible for Lead the Change funding from Devon Community Foundation. Eligible organisations can then access the Stage 1 application form. Please note the eligibility differs from our usual criteria, as outlined above. We are...(Required)A registered charity/CIOA community interest companyA co-operative or community benefit societyAn unincorporated group or organisationA sports club or associationA school, parish council or other local public bodyA church or faith-based groupOther Our organisation is registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club or other non-profit structure (if annual income over £5,000)(Required) Yes No Our planned activity does not include worship or promote a particular religious belief(Required) Our planned activity does not include worship or promote a particular religious belief Our planned activity includes worship or promote a particular religious belief Our planned activity falls outside of statutory provision(Required) Yes No Our planned activity will benefit the wider community(Required) Yes No Our organisation is working in or for the benefit of people living in Plymouth(Required) Yes No We have a constitution or other governing document that is signed and dated and specifies the roles and responsibilities of at least three management committee members.(Required) Yes No Our income for the last full financial year was under £5,000.(Required) Yes No Our organisation does not employ any paid members of staff(Required) Yes No Our planned activity is not part of our trading services for which there would normally be a charge(Required) Yes No There is a clear and relevant charitable purpose outlined in our governing document (note that as part of assessment we will consider completeness and relevance of asset locks)(Required) Yes No There is a clear and relevant charitable purpose or social mission outlined in our governing document(Required) Yes No We are a not-for-profit organisation that is Limited by Guarantee or otherwise cannot pay Directors dividends(Required) Yes No Our income was under £2 million in the last full financial year (unless you are a domestic abuse refuge or hospice)(Required) Yes No Our governing document is publicly available or we can supply a copy(Required) Yes No Our organisation is working in Plymouth or to the benefit of people living in Plymouth(Required) Yes No We have trustees, directors or a management committee comprising at least three unrelated people (please note that as part of assessment we will consider undue influence of persons of significant control)(Required) Yes No We have a bank account held in the name of our organisation(Required) Yes No There are at least two people in our organisation with financial oversight and controls(Required) Yes No We work in the heart of communities with children and young people aged 18 years and under(Required) Yes No We can provide a copy of our safeguarding policy, or a reason why our organisation does not need one(Required) Yes No Our up-to-date annual accounts are publicly available or we can supply a copy (note these will be reviewed as part of the assessment, and how update they are will be taken into account)(Required) Yes No Our planned activity does not promote a particular political or religious belief