As part of their Care Experienced Young People Programme, the Life Changes Trust currently has a small grants scheme called Empowerment Grants open for applications. Amounts of between £500 –£10,000 are available.

These grants are specifically designed reach care-experienced young people, aged 14-26 years, who are also affected by equalities factors and other disadvantages, such as experience of youth justice and mental health issues. The aim of the grants is to empower those young people by developing their confidence and skills, helping them exercise their rights, and helping them have a say in things that matter to them, giving them more opportunities to take part in community life.

The Life Changes Trust will to fund activities for mixed groups (i.e. groups where care-experienced young people can mix and take part in activities with other young people, who are not care-experienced), as well as activities which have care-experienced young people as the sole focus.

The Employment Grants are open to the following applicants:

not-for-profit voluntary or community groups (including registered charities, social enterprises and companies)
schools, colleges and universities
residential houses
statutory bodies

Any organisation from the above list can apply to the fund, but those with an annual income of less that £250,000 are more likely to be successful, as are those who can show that young people are leading on the development of the project.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 29^th March.

To apply, or for further information, please visit the Life Changes Trust website.

Alternatively, please contact Catriona Kelly by email: catriona.kelly@lifechangestrust.org.uk