Youngsters across the West Midlands could benefit from an increased £300,000 of funding from the National Express Foundation.
Last year the charity doubled its funding support to £150,000. This year the Foundation has doubled that amount again to support even more young people across the West Midlands.
Since its launch in 2012, the Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds which has helped over 14,200 young people enjoy positive and engaging activities within their local communities and to continue with their education.
The charity has now opened for 2018 applications and is offering local educational institutions and community groups the opportunity to bid for grants out of the increased £300,000 funding available.
The Foundation previously invited local community groups to bid for grants of £2,500 or £5,000. This year groups can also bid for larger amounts of £10,000 or £20,000 to support sustainable projects that provide positive and engaging activities for young people in deprived areas.
Community groups are not the only ones to benefit from Foundation funding. Local colleges and universities can also apply for grants of £10,000 per year towards innovative bursary schemes that help students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue in further or higher education.
To be eligible, groups or educational institutions must be based within the West Midlands. Full guidelines on how to apply and application forms can be found at www.nationalexpressgroup.com/foundation.
Applications for funding must be received by Thursday 8 March 2018. However the Foundation will be running another funding programme later this year.
Balsall Heath CATS in Birmingham used a Foundation grant to support their Live, Laugh, Learn project which delivered inclusive outdoor activities and workshops. The project directly supported 90 disabled young people, 30 volunteers that helped deliver the activities, as well as the families of the young people involved.
Nazreen Bi, Development Coordinator for Balsall Heath CATS said:
“The National Express Foundation funding has been a lifeline for the Balsall Heath CATS Live, Laugh, Learn project. There is a severe lack of funding available to support the delivery of projects and activities, however the Foundation grant has enabled us to support disabled young people and help them be a part of their local community by doing things that many of us take for granted like going out to local parks. All too often they are forgotten about or there isn’t anywhere they can go and get the support they need to be included. We’re extremely grateful for the Foundation’s support as it has meant our young people have been able to connect and be a visible part of society.”
Castle Vale Neighbourhood Partnership Board used a £2,500 grant to deliver ‘Inspire Bike’ workshops to educate, motivate and inspire local young people interested in bicycle activity by building positive experiences and activities, helping them to break out of a cycle of poor and disruptive behaviour.
Ifor Jones from Castle Vale Neighbourhood Partnership Board said:
“The National Express Foundation funding was the catalyst we needed to develop a solution to some of the anti-social behaviour in Castle Vale that was being perpetrated with bikes. We were able to turn this problem on its head and develop a scheme that celebrated the potential of cycling activity as a positive stimulant for improved behaviours and better wellbeing of young people. The project was subsequently recognised as national best practice and project of the year by Resolve ASB.”
Anthony Vigor, Chairman of the National Express Foundation, said:
“We are extremely proud that over the last six years, the National Express Foundation grants have helped over 14,200 young people enjoy positive and engaging activities and helped them to gain qualifications and learn new skills. This year we’re really pleased to have been able to double the amount of funding available to help even more local young people in the communities that we serve. I would urge all local educational institutions and community groups to submit an application for funding.”
