The overarching aim is to support young people to progress successfully from secondary education through a range of pathways that build on the skills, knowledge and key competencies valued by future employers. Organisations we fund must be able to demonstrate how their work helps young people to:
 

1. Gain access to progression pathways including further or higher education, apprenticeships, traineeships and other similar programmes
2. Build experience and knowledge of work including career specific work experience
3. Develop social and emotional capabilities including communication, leadership and resilience

Funding is allocated through rounds, and this round opens on 18 September 2025 for the expressions of interest (EOI) stage. The deadline for submission is 12pm (midday) on Thursday 30 October 2025. 

To make an application, organisations will need to meet all of the following eligibility.

• Be a constituted and not for profit organisation, charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), charitable company (limited by guarantee), community interest company (CIC) and/or social enterprise
• Deliver work that supports young people of secondary school age, in Greater London, who experience disadvantage. This can be anywhere between ages 11-18. Support can continue for those over the age of 18 if relevant but work cannot solely support young people over the age of 18.
• Commence funded work between July 2026 and October 2026
• Deliver the programme over a three-year period

• Applications from individuals
• Applications from schools, colleges or universities
• For-profit organisations
• Organisations that currently hold a grant under any of our Young People and Education strands that won’t have ended before this grant is due to start
• Work that takes place outside of Greater London
• Beneficiaries who do not experience disadvantage
• Beneficiaries are not of secondary school age
• Projects that are only for those aged over 18 years old
• Financial support for costs that have already been incurred or work that has already taken place
• Projects with a start date before July 2026 and after 1 October 2026
• Projects that are shorter than three years
• Capital projects (bricks and mortar)
• Bursary or sponsorship support
• Tutoring programmes
• Applications for solely research or evaluation work
• Work that is a statutory responsibility
• General appeals for funding

• Award requests can be made for grants between £120,000 and £300,000 over three years.
• We won’t award funding outside of these limits.
• Requests can be for the total cost of the programme.
• The amount requested per year cannot exceed 50 per cent of the income of the charity. For example, a charity with an annual income of £80,000 would have an approximate income over the three-year period of £240,000 and therefore cannot apply for more than £120,000 in total over the three years.

A broad overview of what proposals will need to demonstrate is set out below, however applicants need to read the full guidelines. 

• A cohesive and sustained programme that meets all the aims and objectives of this fund and supports young people to choose, access and sustain pathways after secondary school through
• Understanding of the needs of beneficiaries, the specific disadvantages they face and how this leads to barriers to accessing pathways, and the ability to engage and work with young people
• Track record of designing and delivering programmes that successfully meet intended outcomes and have positive impacts
• Strong and relevant partnerships with schools, colleges and employers, in the communities in which the proposed work will take place
• Clearly articulated outcomes and impacts specific to the proposed programme and beneficiaries
• Plans for a robust and thorough evaluation, including how an evidence base can be developed and how the impact of the work can be effectively communicated to funders, policy makers and beneficiaries

Successful applicants must commit to participating in peer learning as part of the funding programme and to work with the learning partner appointed to support grantees to reflect and improve on their work during the funding term.

• A grant of between £120,000 and £300,000 per organisation paid across three years
• A learning partner with expertise in this area of work will be appointed and grantees will be required to work with them as part of a programme wide evaluation
• Access to organisational capacity building support through partner organisations
• A cohort approach creating opportunity for collaboration with organisations in the two cohorts funded between 2025 and 2029