Releasing Future Leaders
Youth Power Fund Learning Cohort
The Youth Power Fund is designed to equip young people in Foyers with the resources and support they need to lead and develop impactful community projects. Thanks to The Blagrave Trust, our program provides the essential tools and backing to turn these meaningful projects into a reality.
This month, 15 young people and 8 staff members from our 6 funded Foyers gathered for an exciting online Learning Cohort. The aim was to reflect on their youth power work and explore how to keep their projects thriving after the initial funding period.
Young people from each Foyer lead the way by sharing updates on what's been happening through their YPF project over the last six months. We were thrilled to have Daniel Newton from Blagrave Trust and our very own Siobhan Cunningham join us too. Daniel shared valuable insights from a funder's perspective on securing investment, while Siobhan delivered a fantastic Fundraising 101 workshop.
We took a deep dive into what fundraising means to young people and staff. The consensus was that it's not just about raising money or securing grants. It also involves networking, building relationships, and working towards common goals.
Interestingly, when we asked young people and staff about their confidence levels in fundraising. The results were pretty clear: 11% are not confident, 61% are somewhat confident, 22% are very confident, and 6% are unsure. While many feel comfortable with fundraising, what we discovered was there is a clear opportunity to boost Foyer’s overall confidence and skills in this area.
The feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive. Young people described the experience with words like "engaging," "informative," "inspiring," and "exciting." They particularly enjoyed the updates, the quiz, and connecting with each other.
"I love these cohorts. Foyer Fed does amazing ♥️👏 " - Connor, young person
“The thing I enjoyed most was the atmosphere” - Young person
Overall, the Learning Cohort was a real success with 100% of young people and staff saying that they either agreed or strongly agreed that they gained a better understanding of how to sustain their Youth Power Fund projects!
Massive thank you again to The Blagrave Trust for your continued support and shout out to Swan House Foyer, On Route Foyer, Enfield Foyer, Bath Foyer, Braintree Foyer and YMCA Cheshire.
Are you seeking to to improve the quality and impact of your youth supported housing service?
To find out more on how to join the Foyer Federation network membership click here or contact [email protected].
