Hear Me Out! Fund: the results!
The latest round of Hear Me Out! funding came to a close this week after our panel of young people reviewed each application
The latest round of Hear Me Out! funding came to a close this week after our panel of young people reviewed each application and selected the winning projects. It was a very tough process with lots of fantastic ideas to consider, and the insights of panellists Jade, Callum and Charlie were invaluable in making it happen.
37 young people applied and funding was awarded to 12 projects, each of which will help to build a skill or grow a talent. We were blown away by the volume and quality of the applications, and want to thank everyone who applied for the time and thought they put into the process. We hope that they will apply again the next time the fund is open.
Congratulations to the 12 young people who were awarded funding:
- Marcy, Bath Foyer - experienced and aspiring tattoo artist looking to purchase equipment to practice her art.
- David, Sapphire Community Group - funding to set up a T-shirt brand with a social mission to donate profits to local food drops.
- Cameron, Crewe YMCA - gardener looking to grow his skillset and share his passion with others in the YMCA.
- Jessica, YMCA Downslink Group - experienced horserider requiring equipment to return following an injury and pursuing Equine Care in college.
- Zara, Newhaven Foyer - beauty therapist and hairdresser in training with a need for kit and uniforms for the next year of college.
- Jake, Ravenhead Foyer - soon-to-be university student requiring a laptop to begin his remote studies when term begins.
- BC, Birchwood Centre - dedicated college student in need of a laptop to progress with his studies.
- Jared, Enfield Foyer - construction worker keen to take a course to improve his skills and boost his earning power.
- Keira, East Sussex - gardener and mum wanting to grow an existing gardening project to involve more people and spend bonding time with little ones.
- Taylor and Daniel, Verve Place - aspiring barber and hairdresser planning to develop their skills and offer hair services to Foyer residents at reduced rates.
- Sioned, Coops Foyer - aspiring artist in need of materials to deepen her talent and grow her connection to her community.
Our panel members are all previous winners of the funding and shared what they have been up to between then and now.
Jade, an artist, has been working on her sculptures and is planning to hold an exhibition of her work when the pandemic allows! She shared her passion for the intersection of the arts and positive mental health, and brought her expertise and experience of art and tattooing to the panel discussions.
Callum, a chef, has been working with The Birchwood Centre and helping in its efforts to continue providing nutritious food and a sense of community to the local area during the COVID crisis. His understanding of such varied topics as barbering, film props and prosthetics, and the tech needed to study brought a great deal to the conversations.
Charlie, an aspiring flight attendant, is now also a capable swimmer, which enables her to be able to apply for roles in her chosen field. Her empathy and understanding of the need to break down barriers to dream careers brought a fantastic insight to the final decisions.
Over the next few months, we will bring you the stories of the 12 young people who are just starting out on their Hear Me Out! project journey. We’re excited to see where their drive, creativity, ambition and talent will take them.
