Newport Youth Cafe and Detached Youth Work, part of the Revive Newport initiative, has joined the ranks of ten community projects to have received significant backing from housing association Sovereign and The National Lottery Community Fund’s (TNLCF) #iwill Fund.
Revive Newport secured a £10,000 grant from the Sovereign #iwill Fund, an infusion of capital that is expected to positively impact lives on the Isle of Wight.
Twice a week drop-in sessions
The awarded funds will fuel the operation of a youth cafe, welcoming around 2,000 teenagers aged 13-19 for drop-in sessions twice a week. Beyond serving as a social hub, the cafe will offer attendees an array of opportunities to engage with local charities and spearhead projects of their own choosing.
The programme aims to bolster participant outcomes in areas including health and safety, food hygiene, and safeguarding, with the intention of leaving a lasting legacy on the Isle.
Decisions made by Youth Panel
Decisions on the allocation of the #iwill Fund were made by Sovereign’s Youth Panel, comprising customers aged between 18 and 25. These young people had the responsibility of selecting the recipients after the housing association called for applications for the second round of its #iwill Fund.
The fund serves as a conduit for matching TNLCF funding with charities and other organisations making significant contributions in the voluntary sector. By doing so, it helps to expand social action opportunities for young people, fostering skill and confidence growth.
Funding of £195,000 to date
To date, the Sovereign #iwill Fund has awarded over £195,000 to various projects located across southern England since last summer. This is a stride towards the fund’s goal to collaborate with aligned organisations to build thriving, inclusive communities where residents from diverse backgrounds can prosper.
The current round of funding has seen more than £86,000 awarded to accelerate these aspirations.
DCMS and National Lottery Community Fund
The #iwill Fund’s existence has been made possible by a combined investment of £66 million from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
This investment bolsters high-quality social action opportunities for young people. Sovereign contributes by acting as an #iwill Fund match funder, awarding grants on the fund’s behalf.
Mummery: A substantial impact on young people and communities
Daisy Mummery, Sovereign’s #iwill Fund Project Manager, expressed her excitement at the completion of the second round of grant recipients. She commended the #iwill Fund for the substantial impact it is having on young people and communities, citing that it has already generated over £2.1 million in social value. Mummery anticipates further growth of this impact as the second round of projects get underway.
Emily Morris, a member of the Sovereign Youth Panel, described her involvement in the grant allocation process as a brilliant opportunity. She felt her voice and opinion were valued in the decision-making process, contributing to the empowerment of young people and their engagement in social action within Sovereign communities via the #iWill Fund.
Whyman: Projects continue to demonstrate positive impact
Expressing gratitude to National Lottery players and DCMS, Helen Whyman, Head of the #iwill Fund, highlighted the vital role the £66 million joint investment plays in offering young people access to high-quality social action.
Whyman anticipates this socially impactful action, focused on issues important to young people, to yield impressive benefits for local communities. The expectation is that the forthcoming round of Sovereign projects will continue to demonstrate this impact.
Image: kelly sikkema under CC BY 2.0
