Open Call: Ford – Southampton Community Fund (UK)

Deadline: 06-Oct-2026

The Ford–Southampton Community Fund provides grants to grassroots nonprofit organisations supporting skills development and employability among young people aged 11–25 in Southampton and Eastleigh. Grants of up to £5,000 per year for two years, or £10,000 over 24 months, support sustained learning programmes that help young people overcome barriers to education and employment.

About the Ford–Southampton Community Fund

The Ford–Southampton Community Fund was established through the Ford Southampton Endowment Fund and is administered by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation. The fund aims to address poverty and inequality by supporting employability, learning, and practical skills development among young people in Southampton and Eastleigh. Funding is intended for nonprofit community organisations delivering sustained, skills-based interventions that help young people build confidence, knowledge, and abilities for education, employment, and future opportunities. What Does the Fund Support? The fund supports projects that provide meaningful and sustained skills development for young people aged 11–25. Examples of eligible activities may include: - Youth clubs offering structured learning activities. - Coding clubs. - IT workshops. - Public speaking workshops. - CV writing workshops. - Work experience initiatives. - Social enterprises providing practical skills development. - Other sustained skills-based learning programmes. Projects should respond to the needs of young people who may face barriers to learning and employment. Who Are the Target Beneficiaries? The programme focuses on young people aged 11–25 who experience barriers to learning. This can include young people affected by: - Poverty. - Disengagement from mainstream education. - Special educational needs. - Care experience. - Mental health challenges. - Minoritised backgrounds. Projects should demonstrate an understanding of the needs of their learners and provide appropriate, sustained support. Priority for Young People Aged 14–19 Priority is given to applications supporting young people aged 14–19. This age range is recognised as an important transition period when young people may be making decisions about education, training, employment, and their future career pathways. Projects serving this age group should demonstrate how their activities help participants develop relevant skills and overcome barriers during this period. Sustained Learning Rather Than One-Off Events Grants must support a sustained programme of learning rather than one-off events. The fund recognises that young people facing barriers to learning may experience setbacks or make progress in non-linear ways. Projects should therefore be designed to provide ongoing support and respond flexibly to the needs and circumstances of participants. Grant Amount

Eligible organisations can receive:

- Up to £5,000 per year. - Funding for two years. - Up to £10,000 over 24 months. Funding is paid in annual instalments. The second year of funding is contingent on the organisation providing adequate reporting on the first year of the project. What Can the Grant Pay For? Funding can support reasonable costs associated with delivering the proposed skills development programme.

Eligible costs include:

- Staff expenses. - Volunteer expenses. - Activity costs. - Running costs. - A proportionate contribution toward core organisational costs. - Small equipment items as part of a wider project budget. Applicants should ensure that requested costs are proportionate and directly connected to project delivery. Who Can Apply? The fund is intended for grassroots nonprofit organisations operating locally in Southampton or Eastleigh.

Eligible organisations must:

- Be nonprofit community organisations. - Have an annual income of less than £1 million. - Operate locally. - Be able to demonstrate a project base in Southampton or Eastleigh. - Deliver a project that supports young people’s skills development. Local Project Base Requirement Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their project has a base in Southampton or Eastleigh. The fund is focused on locally delivered community projects and is not intended to support organisations without a local project base in the eligible areas. What Does the Fund Not Support? Certain organisations, activities, and costs are excluded from funding.

The fund does not support:

- National charities. - Organisations without a local project base. - Capital costs. - Large equipment costing more than £1,000. - Statutory provision. - Profit-making activities. - One-off events. Applicants should ensure that their proposed project is structured as an ongoing learning programme rather than a single event or activity. Focus on Skills and Employability The fund aims to improve young people’s opportunities by strengthening practical and employability-related skills. Projects should help participants develop abilities that can support their progression toward further learning, employment, or other positive opportunities. Activities may include technical skills, communication skills, workplace preparation, and practical experience. Responding to Learner Needs The fund recognises that young people facing significant barriers may not progress through learning in a straightforward way. Successful projects should therefore be responsive to individual learner needs and capable of supporting participants through challenges, setbacks, and different rates of progress. This approach is particularly relevant for young people who have disengaged from mainstream education or experienced other barriers to learning. How to Prepare a Strong Application A strong application should clearly explain the need for the project and how the proposed activities will benefit young people.

Applicants should demonstrate:

- The local need being addressed. - The barriers faced by the target young people. - The skills participants will develop. - How the programme