Grants of up to £1,000 are available for UK projects led by a deaf young person aged 8-25 that help deaf young people to make a positive change for themselves and other young people.
The National Deaf Children’s Society Make a Change Fund is designed to help deaf young people bring to life their ideas so they can make a positive change for themselves and other deaf young people.
Deaf young people aged 8 to 25 can apply for up to £1,000 to create a project. This could include, for example:
• Addressing issues they face.
• Advocating for greater inclusion, and
• Improving their local area,
Young people can also get creative with art, drama, music, film etc and tie their ideas in with school projects or youth group activities.
Groups of young people aged 8-25 may apply for a grant of up to £1,000, with no matched funding requirement. While groups can be a mixture of deaf and hearing young people, projects must be led by a deaf young person.
For the purposes of the Make a Change Fund, a group can consist of just two people. Individuals seeking grant support are advised to contact the Society to discuss their ideas and/or needs.
Examples of projects previously funded by the Society include:
• A sign language club to help deaf and hearing classmates communicate with each other.
• Improving deaf awareness at local leisure centres, and
• Sharing deaf awareness tips with bus drivers and emergency services staff.
A number of YouTube videos of case studies are available on the Society’s website.
Applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
• The project must be led by deaf young people.
• Those involved must be 8 to 25 years old.
• The group can be a mixture of deaf and hearing young people.
• There must be a minimum of two young people involved in the project. If the application involves just one young person, please email the Society to discuss, and
• A youth worker or organisation (such as school, youth group, brownies etc) must be involved to support and manage the funds.
Further information, guidance and details of the online application process can be found on the Society’s website.
A 2-stage application process applies to the programme:
• Stage 1: Applicants should first complete a brief online Expression of Interest form.
• Stage 2 - successful applicants at the Expression of Interest stage will be invited to submit a full application.
Applications may be made at any time.