Latest news
Graeae Theatre
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10 August 2026Lessons from co-designing the Youth-Led Creativity Fund
Louise Chandler from our Involving Young People Collective shares her reflections from the co-design process for the Youth-Led Creativity Fund and what it taught her about power, responsibility and youth-leadership.
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What do people think about Esmée Fairbairn Foundation 2026
Read the key findings from a 2026 survey of successful and unsuccessful applicants on their experiences of working with Esmée, alongside what we plan to do in response.
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People can’t build for the future while they're fighting fires
In Gina Crane’s final project for Esmée, she has been working with Oliver French to pull together six years of learning about Esmée’s strategy for Trustees. In this blog, Gina shares the challenges organisations we fund are facing and shares three things she'd like funders to do.
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Pre-application Q&A webinar: 28 September 2026
We're hosting a pre-application Q&A webinar on 28 September at 2pm for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
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Annual Report and Accounts 2025
Our 2025 Annual Report and Accounts gives an overview of our funding, investments and operations during the year.
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Social and affordable housing: Investment deep dive
An investment deep dive on social and affordable housing in the UK, giving an overview of the challenges facing the sector as well as both the impact and the investment opportunity for asset allocators. It also offers guidance on community-centred approaches.
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Applying for Youth-Led Creativity funding
See the guidance for applying to the Youth-Led Creativity Fund. Co-designed with Esmée's Involving Young People Collective, we expect to make 12 to 16 grants, totalling £2m, over 2026 and 2027, and will be focusing our support on organisations based in and working in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
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Dame Caroline Mason to step down as Chief Executive of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
After 13 years leading the Foundation as our Chief Executive, Dame Caroline Mason will be stepping down from her role in early 2027. Caroline has developed and strengthened the Foundation’s work in lasting ways and her influence has spread far beyond Esmée.
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Youth-Led Creativity funding Q&A: 16 July 2026
Watch our Q&A webinar about our Youth-Led Creativity funding, which will open to applications in July 2026.
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Youth-Led Creativity funding opening in July 2026
We're excited to share that we will open to applications for Youth-Led Creativity in July. Co-designed with Esmée's Involving Young People Collective, the programme will focus on work in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and accept applications on a rolling basis.
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