Lead the Change is a new, three-year initiative launched by BBC Children in Need, in partnership with Co‑op Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Joseph Levy Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Postcode Justice Trust, UK Community Foundations and The National Lottery Community Fund. The programme supports young people to play a leading role in strengthening relationships, fostering understanding and building belonging in their communities.
Research shows that many young people feel disconnected, less heard by decision makers, and increasingly cautious about expressing themselves – especially online, where exposure to harmful or misleading content can be common. Combined with financial pressures facing families and communities, these factors can deepen isolation and weaken young people’s sense of belonging.
Lead the Change responds by investing directly in youth leadership, community connection and opportunity. The programme enables youth‑led projects, creates safe spaces, strengthens relationships across communities, and helps young people build skills, including navigating online information and shaping positive narratives.
1. What the Programme Aims to Achieve
Lead the Change aims to:
• Strengthen community connection and safety.
• Empower young people as leaders, storytellers and changemakers.
• Support young people to build digital literacy and challenge harmful narratives.
• Increase opportunity through skills and leadership pathways.
• Build a national movement for youth‑led connection and change.
2. Key details
· Grant amount – one grant of £123,353 is available in Leicester City.
· Grant length – 3 years
· Project grants to support the aims and delivery of work in one of the 27 listed target places which meets the criteria set out below.
· Applicants will be required to demonstrate the strength of youth leadership and voice within their organisation, relevance to target communities (young people impacted by xenophobia, racism, and islamophobia) and programme aims, safeguarding and trauma-informed practice, capacity to deliver and sustain impact and a commitment to the six principles of high-quality youth social action. We particularly welcome applications from organisations led by people most impacted by xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia.
· You can apply if you are already funded by BBC Children in Need or a community foundation, but you cannot apply for the same work that is already funded (or any work already funded by another organisation).
· You can only apply for and hold one Lead the Change grant.
3. Who Can Apply
Lead the Change is open to registered not‑for‑profit organisations in the UK (in the 27 specified places listed here) that:
· Have an annual turnover of no more than £2m, unless you are a domestic abuse refuge or hospice
· Have at least three trustees/members of the governing body
· Deliver work in one of the 27 target places
· Work with children and young people aged 18 years and under
· Work in the heart of their communities and are trusted by young people
· Work in and are based in one of the eligible areas
· Put the voices, experiences and skills of children and young people at the centre of everything they do, from design to delivery
· Can demonstrate strong safeguarding and trauma‑informed practice
· Are keen to keep learning about and developing their work with children and young people
· Have at least three unrelated board/governing body members
4. What the Programme Will Fund
Lead the Change will fund work that strengthens local relationships, builds confidence and belonging, and gives young people the tools to lead change.
We are keen to fund organisations that will support young people to drive positive change in their communities informed by local priorities. Projects could include:
• Safe spaces for young people to meet and connect – youth clubs, sports, creative and cultural spaces.
• Youth‑led community action and resilience – co‑designed projects, leadership development, intercultural initiatives to bring people together.
• Pathways to opportunity – skills development, mentoring, training and connection to training or apprenticeships.
• Narrative change and digital literacy – tackling misinformation and disinformation, storytelling and youth-created content.
