The Spark Awards for Big Changemakers provides funding and support to 18-to 25-year-olds who have a “pilot-ready” project that is reimagining how to create positive social change for all young people.
The awards is run by charity Big Change which was established in response to the 2012 London riots by Holly and Sam Branson, the daughter and son of British entrepreneur Richard Branson.
Big Change aims to back bold leaders and early-stage ideas that transform systems in social care, mental health, and education by providing opportunities for them to connect, learn and act together as part of a purpose-driven community rethinking and reshaping the systems around young people.
How much is available?
Up to 10 young leaders, or teams of three, will receive a grant of up to £40,000 to develop their project, and take part in a 12-month tailored learning and development programme run in partnership with The Young Foundation, worth up to £10,000.
This includes:
- One-to-one support tailored to individual needs, providing supportive challenge and space for reflection.
- Peer learning to build network connections and receive support and challenge in a safe environment to test ideas.
- In-person residentials to connect with peers and build knowledge of innovation with a focus on piloting approaches.
- Online masterclasses and guest speakers providing insight on specific challenges, approaches, and topics.
What projects are funded?
The charity states that it is looking for projects that address the root causes of the problem they seek to solve, and focus on one or more of the following outcomes for young people:
- Purpose – Helping young people explore their passions, set goals, and contribute to their communities.
- Agency – Empowering young people to make informed decisions and take purposeful action.
- Relationships – Building strong, trusting relationships that support emotional and social wellbeing.
- Growth – Supporting young people to see challenges as opportunities and develop the skills and character they need.
Who should apply?
The Spark Awards is open to individuals or teams of up to three people who have a pilot-ready project with the potential to ignite lasting changes in young people's lives. The lead applicant must be aged between 18-25 during the year 2025 (not all team members need to be in this age range) and must also live and have the right to work in England.
The charity says the applicant will be “close to the problems” they are trying to solve and be mission driven and “excited by learning with and from a network of peers who share a powerful vision and commitment to setting young people up to thrive in life”.
When to apply?
Applications for this year's awards opened in late February, with the deadline for applying being 20 April. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in early June and successful grantees will be notified by late June.
What is and isn't covered?
The award can cover costs directly related to delivering a project, including expenses needed to run a project, such as paying for time to deliver it, or the costs of other organisations and individuals supporting the delivery of the project. Funding and support will be provided for travel, accommodation, or other expenses that help ensure full participation in the Spark Awards programme.
Funding from the award cannot be used for purchasing or improving fixed assets; buying buildings or land; activities intended to generate private profit; or loan repayments.
What is meant by ‘pilot ready’?
The charity says that to apply for the awards, a project must have completed the following steps:
- Have clearly defined the challenges a project aims to address.
- Have developed a strong idea in response to these challenges.
- Have built a compelling case for the idea, supported by evidence and insight.
The charity is looking for projects that have a strong initial project design that incorporates learnings from practical testing in different contexts, and is ready to develop, or is in the process of developing a detailed project design and run a small-scale pilot.
Funding roundup
The Archives Revealed, a partnership between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has awarded the Mulberry Bush Charity a grant of £39,615. The grant will go towards supporting The Mulberry Bush Archives Team, based at the charity's Third Space site in Gloucestershire, in cataloguing the Cassel Hospital archives.
The Innovation Challenge Fund by NHS Charities Together has granted Newcastle Hospitals Charity £200,000 to support a partnership with Ways to Wellness to further expand its SPACE Pilot project, a collaboration with the Great North Children's Hospital that sees social prescribing link workers placed alongside clinicians treating children with chronic conditions.
The charitable arm of the Rigby Group has announced a £3mn commitment to help raise the aspirations of 11-to 25-year-olds from low-income backgrounds in Birmingham. The Rigby Foundation's Inspiring Futures project pairs 10 schools and colleges from the city with 10 charities who will provide support with activities like maths and English attainment, mental health, debating skills and preparing for employment.
Charity St John's Foundation has donated £4,238 to seven primary schools in Bath and North East Somerset to help expand their library collections. As part of St John's 850th anniversary last year, the schools collaborated on a book titled The Day the Alien Came. Written by 192 children, the book's proceeds were used to provide books for the libraries of the participating schools.
