Grants of up to £20,000 for up to 18 months are available for individuals, groups and small organisations to explore a new idea for social change that has the potential to transform the way things are currently done within the UK.

Their ideas should be ‘bold and brave’, have a charitable purpose and be:

• Challenging injustice – Ideas should show a clear vision to help build a better society and contribute to shifting power and challenging and transforming the root causes of systemic oppression. There is interest in ideas working at a local level as those working at a national level.
• Emerging – The funding is for ideas that are still forming. Applicants need to have a clear sense of the learning and experimenting they need to do to progress their idea.
• Long-term potential – Ideas with a long-term impact.

The funding can support a number of things, including but not limited to research to develop the idea; gathering evidence for a campaign, bringing people or communities together to build power, and paying the applicant or others to deliver these activities.

Applications will be accepted from:

• Individuals.
• Groups or collectives working together (it is not a requirement to be a registered organisation).
• Organisations of any legal structure with a turnover of under £150,000.

Priority is given to people aged 18–30, however, consideration is given to applications from those aged 30 years and older.

Pre-application access support and a bursary of up to £750 are available.

The deadline for applications is 2 December 2025 (13:00).

Ideas and Pioneers Fund | Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Voluntary Action Leeds