Ignite Trust, a Harrow-based community programme which provides activities and support for young people in the local area, has received £1,000 of matched funding from Santander’s innovative Changemaker Fund.
The Fund is part of a pioneering collaboration between Santander and rewards-based crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder. The programme is designed to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups deliver projects that improve communities and help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future.
Ignite Trust works with young people in the local community to encourage them to re-engage with education, find employment or move on from anti-social behaviour or involvement with negative influences. It delivers a programme of services and support to people aged 13 to 25 in centres around Harrow that are reporting high levels of youth anti-social behaviour. It helps its members through mentoring in schools, sports and music production. The organisation aims to build trust among these young people to help them reach their full potential.
The additional funding will enable the trust to extend the services offered to more people in the local community. So far, it has helped the organisation provide one-to-one and group support for up to 650 young people in Harrow.
Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director of Santander Business Banking, commented: “We are thrilled to support Ignite Trust as it provides more great opportunities for young people in Harrow. It’s great to see the work being done to engage members in education and employment, and we hope this funding makes a real difference to the organisation and the people it supports.”
Lynne Burke, Director at Ignite Trust, commented: “We are grateful to Santander for this funding, which has made it possible for us to work with even more young people in Harrow and spend time with them to make a difference in their lives. We know how a healthy community can empower individuals.”
The £200,000 Changemaker Fund, www.crowdfunder.co.uk/changemaker, is part of Santander’s flagship community programme, The Discovery Project, which aims to inspire people to have confidence in the future through projects that build skills, grow knowledge and support innovation.
By working together with Crowdfunder, Santander aims to enable entrepreneurs and community groups to tackle social challenges and create positive local impact. Eligible projects seeking funding of up to £20,0001 and focussed on skills, knowledge and innovation that get the crowd’s backing will receive 50 per cent of their funding requirement from Santander to ensure the enterprise reaches its target.
As well as access to the £200,000 matched funding from Santander, projects will benefit from crowdfunding team specialists with education, enterprise and coaching support to unlock further funds and create lasting impacts in communities across the UK.
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Notes to Editors
1 Under exceptional circumstances, enterprises could be eligible for projects up to £40,000 with 50 per cent of their funding requirement from Santander.
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About Ignite Trust
Ignite Trust works with disadvantaged young people aged 13-25 in Harrow. It exists to see long-term transformation in the lives of those who are at-risk, marginalised or face barriers to success, through:
- offering programmes which engage young people;
- equipping and empowering young people with tools, resources and opportunities to make positive choices;
- raising expectations for the future to transform lives for the long term.
A significant proportion of its services and resources are aimed at supporting young people to
(re-)engage with education and/or employment. Ignite Trust believes that long-term transformation is most sustainable through improved educational attainment and employment prospects.
For more information please visit: www.ignitetrust.org.uk
Media Enquiries
Leonora Burtenshaw T: 020 7756 4543 M: 07701 004 107 E: leonora.burtenshaw@santander.co.uk
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