New grants strategy - what’s next?

17th May 2017

Now that we have introduced our new grants strategy, we are looking forward to the next chapter in our grant-making journey, welcoming on board both new and existing partners.

The new strategy will see us continue working with UK and international funding partners, including the Department for International Development, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Queen’s Young Leaders and global healthcare company GSK, to help us achieve our vision of ‘A Just World Free from Poverty’.

Through the new grant making strategy, we will aim to fund new initiatives to help drive great ideas and sustainable change, both in the UK and in some of the world’s poorest communities, as well as continuing to support existing partners and projects. The first of these new funding streams are now open for applicants, with more coming soon.

Now open for applicants

Maternal Mental Health

More than 1 in 10 women develop a mental illness during pregnancy, or in the first year of their baby’s life. Left untreated, poor mental health can have a devastating impact on mums and their families. We’re looking for UK partners who can help ensure that more women experiencing maternal mental health issues will have access to high quality community based support in their local area.

Girls in Gangs

Research and evidence shows that gang-involved girls and young women navigate a range of harmful environments which can expose them to high levels of sexual exploitation and increased criminal activity, which we recognise that this is a complex issue. We’re looking to make UK and international grants that aim to see fewer girls and young women entering harmful and risky gang situations, those already in gangs experiencing less harm and more leaving gang situations.

Communities and Sport for Change

Sport plays an important role in improving the lives of millions of people in the UK and across the world. Under the right circumstances, sport a powerful tool for helping bring about social change. Our Sport for Change strategy runs across our UK and international funding and within this initiative, we’re seeking proposals which use sport as a catalyst for change, helping people to take ownership and feel empowered.

Other initiatives

Fighting Malaria, Improving Health

There’s good news to report in the fight against malaria. Over the last 15 years, deaths from the disease have almost halved but progress remains fragile and malaria still claims almost half a million lives each year, mostly in children under five, living in sub-Saharan Africa. We’ve formed a five-year partnership with GSK to fight malaria and improve health in Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and the Greater Mekong sub region.

Coming soon

Core Strength

Recent research across the UK suggest that smaller and medium sized organisations are being particularly hard hit by the current economic challenges. We will soon be launching a pilot core funding programme for smaller organisations who are rooted in the communities they serve play a key role in supporting people to make changes in their lives.

Small and Diaspora UK NGO Fund

We believe that small and diaspora-led NGOs play a crucial role in development but often struggle to access funding. Therefore we have a designated Small and Diaspora UK NGO Fund within our DFID co-funded partnership, which will soon be open for applicants.