Northern Rock Foundation

£8 million will be available for grants and development support this year, as part of a new five year strategy. All five of the Foundation’s grant programmes will continue although with a tighter focus.

The main grant programmes are:

• Enabling Independence and Choice which will focus on older people; people with mental health problems; people with learning disabilities; carers.
• Safety and Justice for Victims of Abuse which will focus on children and adults who experience domestic abuse, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.
• Changing Lives which will focus on young offenders and young people already within the criminal justice system; people, including young people, who misuse drugs and/or alcohol; refugees and asylum seekers and migrant communities.
• Managing Money which will focus on help for people who are in debt or have other financial problems and needs
• Having a Home which will focus on homeless people, especially homeless young people.

The Foundation has also made a shift in its grant-making approach to focus on sustainability in all our grant programmes. We will encourage work to consolidate organisations and increase collaboration including:

• reviewing organisational focus
• re-structuring organisational models
• developing innovative delivery models and approaches
• diversifying  income streams
• exploring greater partnership working, consortia development or mergers

Training for staff and trustees in leadership and change issues and other management development support will also be available through Foundation-funded training programmes.