CCF launches new programme of funding for Youth Social Action with UKCF network

Following the successful delivery of the first two phases of the #iwill Fund, Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF) is pleased to announce a third round of funding which will prioritise inspiring 10–14-year-olds to get involved in social action across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. CCF will use match funding to double the resources available leading to total funding of more than £1.4m for the programme.

The #iwill movement brings together cross-sector organisations and young people who believe that all children and young people should have the chance to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and the broader society. The #iwill Fund supports this movement and is made possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The #iwill Fund helps create opportunities for young people to get involved in social action by developing their skills and potential, and their communities where they gain the confidence to make a positive contribution.

We, along with fifteen other community foundations from the UKCF network, will award grants of up to £10,000 to groups for projects lasting up to a year. We aim to fund both new and well-established groups, and to encourage young people who are new to social action, focusing particularly on the 10-14 age range.

Donna Wheadon, Grants Officer managing the #iwill Fund at CCF commented, “We are pleased to once again be a part of the #iwill movement, large areas of Cornwall suffer from acute deprivation and lack of opportunity. By investing in young people, we enable them to participate locally in social action projects and shape a more hopeful and prosperous future for Cornwall.”

Rosemary Macdonald, CEO of UK Community Foundations added, “Young people are the future of our communities. By encouraging 10–14-year-olds to get involved in social action and see the benefits for themselves and their communities, we are creating strong foundations for the future.”