A new way of funding – and it’s game changing!
When we were developing the Young Gamechangers Fund, we knew we wanted to create something different. This £4.5m partnership between the Co-op Foundation, Co-op and the #iwill Fund is bold. It’s built by young people. And it’s changing the way youth-led funding is delivered forever. Last year’s Gamechangers are already making such a difference in their local communities, we can’t wait to see what this latest will achieve.
All 66 of our new Young Gamechangers have been selected by our youth steering group, a group of young people aged 18 – 25, who have built this fund from the ground up. This really is a fund in which young people can support other young people to build a better life for themselves and others around them.
We’re excited to welcome this new group of Young Gamechangers, especially after such a successful first year pilot. We’ve been highly impressed at the calibre of applicants for funding, and we can’t wait to see how they transform their local communities at a grassroots level.
Our new gamechangers
From Jessica Booth (aged 23), whose Project Wheels initiative will create the UK’s first youth-led wheelchair Rugby League team to Abby Gourlay (aged 12), who is starting a Youth led marine conservation in the North West Highlands, these young people are building communities of the future together. We’re privileged to be able to support their work.
Roland, one of our YGF steering group members said:
“I’m proud to have been part of the YGF Steering Group for Grant Round 2. It’s been a privilege to work alongside like-minded young people to overcome challenges and create real impact. I hope the YGF grantees, especially those who haven’t traditionally had access to funding, feel a strong sense of empowerment and support.”
You can see a full list of our new Young Gamechangers here.
Co-operative values in action
Through the Young Gamechangers Fund, young people are working together and helping themselves and their communities. Through pooling ideas and creativity to solve the problems they see around them, they’re co-operating to make the world a better and more equitable place.
Our co-operative values are also reflected not only through our funding partnership with Co-op and the #iwill Fund, but also through our partnership with Co-op Live.
We’re Co-op Live’s Official Charity Partner. An annual £1m donation to us supports initiatives like the Young Gamechangers Fund. As you can see from the sheer variety of partners we are funding, gigs at Co-op Live really are giving back!
We’re also proud to be a flexible funder, and one that supports young people take the lead on the issues that matter to them. This is why we’ve partnered with Global Fund for Children and Restless Development, who have experience in working collaboratively with young people to deliver this fund.
Next Steps
This is just the start of the journey for our round two young gamechangers. As they continue with their important work and make a difference in their local communities, we’ll be supporting them all of the way. We’re looking forward to seeing what they achieve!
Sign up to our blog to find out more about what they get up to in the future and follow the Young Gamechangers Fund on Instagram and Linkedin for up-to-date information on the fund.