Note about this guidance
In July 2022, we updated our strategy and guidance for A Fairer Future. Read our blog about the changes in A Fairer Future.
On this page, you'll find the previous guidance we had under our original A Fairer Future strategy. If you have an application in process that was submitted under our previous strategy, we will take this guidance into account when assessing your application.
Please note, however, that from October 2022, we will be assessing all applications under the updated strategy and guidance.
A Fairer Future: priorities
We want to contribute to a just and anti-racist society, where those most likely to have their rights denied have those rights protected, as well as the opportunity to speak and be heard, and the freedom to express their creativity. We want to shine new light on areas of need and challenge the cultures, systems and behaviours that stand in the way of change.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
We commit to funding more organisations led by communities experiencing racial inequity. In A Fairer Future, we aim to give more long-term funding and support to organisations working to advance racial justice. We will also work with partners to identify, fund, and nurture smaller organisations led by communities experiencing racial inequity that are working towards our impact goals.
Climate change:
Across all our aims, we are keen to support work which addresses the causes and impacts of climate change.
| Impact goals by 2030 | Priorities in first 5 years |
|---|---|
| Injustice and structural inequality is challenged and changed. |
Acting early on the root causes of problems Children and young people’s rights Young people leaving care Tackling injustice Creativity transforming lives |
| A new inclusive generation of leaders and artists. |
Empowering young leaders Removing barriers to creative careers Cultural education |
Acting early on the root causes of problems
We want to see more action taking place to prevent problems from occurring, not just to cope with the consequences. In particular, getting early support to children is vital, whether that is in the first years of life, at key transition points or to counter the negative impact of trauma that can reverberate through lives.
- Impact goal:
Injustice and structural inequality is challenged and changed
- We want to support work that:
- Makes the case for shifting investment of resources away from crisis and towards prevention
- Ensures more young children facing disadvantage get quality support in the early years, by changing policy and practice at scale
- Supports teenagers facing challenges before they reach crisis point (challenges like exploitation, impact of early trauma and/or problems with police, family, school)
- Identifies and challenges the root causes that contribute to cycles of disadvantage and unlocks change for the future
- Addresses a persistent and difficult issue where the current approach isn’t working
Children and young people’s rights
We believe that all children and young people should have their rights respected, no matter how challenging their circumstances. We recognise that some young people do not always get the support or services they need and fund those who work alongside young people to create fairer systems.
- Impact goal:
Injustice and structural inequality is challenged and changed
- We want to support work that:
- Challenges persistent inequalities so that children and young people can access the education, housing and services they are entitled to
- Results in changes to legislation, policy and practice for the benefit of those most likely to have their rights denied
- Is driven and shaped by young people with direct experience of being let down by the system
Young people leaving care: a focused funding stream
Applications for this priority are by invitation only.
We believe more needs to be done across the UK to reduce the risk of young people falling off a ‘cliff edge’ of support when they leave care. We want to see care leavers supported - by the system and by their own networks - to feel emotionally stable and be financially secure, and ultimately flourish as an adult.
- Impact goal:
Injustice and structural inequality is challenged and changed
- The work we support will lead to:
- More care leavers developing and sustaining stable, supportive and fulfilling relationships
- Young people having more say over the decisions that matter to them, their voices being listened to, and acted on
- Consistent and good quality support for young people that leads to successful transitions and independence
- A system that responds quickly to messages from research, learning about good practice and the voices of young people, with challenge when things go wrong, and sharing and spreading of what works well
Tackling injustice
A just and inclusive society benefits us all. We seek to support those who are most likely to have their rights denied due to race, gender, disability or immigration status. We want people’s voices to be heard, to shine new light on areas of need, and to change the cultures, systems and behaviours that stand in the way of progress.
- Impact goal:
Injustice and structural inequality is challenged and changed
- We want to support work that:
- Changes legislation, policy and practice to reflect the needs of those most likely to have their rights denied
- Is driven and shaped by individuals with experience of being let down by a system, so that they can themselves have a direct impact on changing that system
- Brings to light and challenges the reasons people experience prejudice, or are ignored or mistreated by public authorities
- Holds those in power to account and persuades them to take responsibility for making changes
Creativity transforming lives
We believe creative activity can help people facing difficult social or personal issues and can be a powerful way to tackle inequality and injustice. We are interested in those who use the power of creativity to address vital issues and help individuals to reach their potential.
- Impact goal:
Everyone can access the benefits of culture and creativity
- We want to support work that:
- Develops models of creative participation which enable people to find solutions to the social or personal issues that affect them
- Uses arts and culture to address social and environmental injustice
- Uses creativity and culture to help people and communities recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and beyond
Empowering young leaders
Young people can play a vital role in unlocking change. We value the energy, insight and leadership young people bring to issues and the impact this work can have on young people, their communities and their sense of civic engagement. We are interested in work that provides progression routes for young people with experience of disadvantage to create a more diverse group of cultural, environmental and social leaders for the future.
- Impact goal:
A new inclusive generation of leaders and artists
- We want to support work that:
- Enables more young people currently under-represented in decision making to steer policy and have a real chance of influencing change
- Supports a new inclusive generation of leadership to develop solutions to issues they want to change in the social, environmental and cultural sectors
- Ensures youth leadership and solutions are central to COVID-19 recovery
Removing barriers to creative careers
We want to support those building a cultural sector that reflects our society, with open access for those who are currently missing out or facing significant barriers. A more representative, inclusive workforce could influence policy and practice to ensure better, more fulfilling engagement with culture and creativity for everyone.
- Impact goal:
A new inclusive generation of leaders and artists
- We want to support work that:
- Opens up access to a career in the arts for those who are currently missing out
- Leads to a creative sector workforce that is representative of the wider community, enabling the widest range of stories to be told and diverse ideas and perspectives to flourish
- Enables a new inclusive generation of leadership to tackle challenges in the sector
- Supports freelance artists to sustain and develop their careers during the period of COVID-19 recovery and beyond
- Applicants must:
Build their talent support around an accessible recruitment process that works to tackle potential barriers for applicants, offer strong signposting to further opportunities and progression routes for participants, and be working at a scale that could influence the wider sector.
Cultural education
Applications to this funding priority are by invitation only.
Cultural education - in a classroom or through access to arts and culture - can contribute to all aspects of a child’s development, particularly supporting creativity, critical thinking, empathy and resilience. The arts equip children and young people with skills that will be increasingly important in future careers. Despite this, access to arts and culture is not distributed equally across the UK or in education settings. By supporting cultural organisations to work together with educators and artists, we will protect the right to high quality creative experiences for every child in school and in the community.
- Impact goal:
A new inclusive generation of leaders and artists
- The work we support will lead to:
- Creativity being a key part of every child’s education
- High-quality cultural education being accessible to all, with online delivery supported to reach beyond the digital divide