Out of Kilter
How to rebalance our school system to work for people, economy and society.
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Young people are full of untapped potential and are more determined than ever to make a positive impact. But they often face deep-rooted barriers to making their vision a reality.
Many young people are struggling to see a way forward and say they feel anxious and powerless (Youth Index by the Prince’s Trust, 2024), lack purpose and direction (Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2023), and feel unprepared for their futures (Youth Voice Census, 2023). We want to change that, and we recognise the need to share more power and resources with young people to bring about the changes they want to see. This year, we’re thrilled to launch The Spark Awards for Big Changemakers as we go deeper in our commitment to supporting young changemakers who are creating a future in which all young people can thrive.
About the Spark Awards for Big Changemakers
The Spark Awards aims to find and support young changemakers aged 18-25 in England who have bold, pilot-ready projects with the potential to spark lasting change for young people. The projects we are seeking to back will focus on setting all young people up to thrive by enabling them to achieve one or more of the following outcomes: gain a sense of purpose, enjoy their agency, build meaningful relationships, and access opportunities to grow. We want to support projects that address the root causes of the problems young people face and offer solutions that shift the way things are usually done.
Why apply
By applying, you and your team could receive a grant of up to £40,000 to take your project to the next level. If selected, you will also participate in a 12-month tailored learning and development programme designed to support the delivery of your pilot and help you grow as a person and leader of your big idea. This will include coaching, workshops and peer learning opportunities. But that’s not all. Spark Awards recipients will also join an intergenerational community of incredible purpose-driven leaders who share a commitment to creating positive impact with and for young people
We have enlisted support to help shape the design of The Spark Awards and boost our outreach efforts so that we reach diverse young changemakers and minimise barriers to getting involved. This has included working closely with an advisory youth panel made up of young people with experiences relevant to the leaders that we’re seeking to support.
We’re excited to take submissions from young people across England and especially from those who have never accessed our funding before. If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply now here.
The deadline for submissions is Sunday 20th April 2025 at 11:59pm.