Changing Lives

Helps young offenders and young people within the criminal justice system, refugees and asylum seekers, and people who misuse drugs or alcohol.

Changing Lives supports people on the margins of our communities to get the help they need to take control of their lives, develop life skills and feel a sense of belonging.

There are people who think they have little place in our society and find it difficult to feel a sense of belonging. Some have lived very chaotic lives, with low expectations and aspirations. In these circumstances people are unlikely to benefit from wider opportunities to become involved in their communities, to take part in education or to get a job.

In this programme we aim to help people who lack a sense of the possibility of contributing and belonging to their community, to have the individual support they need to take control of their lives.

The groups we want to target are:

  • Young offenders and young people within the criminal justice system aged 11 – 25
  • Refugees and asylum seekers and migrant communities
  • People who misuse alcohol and/or drugs

We will support organisations that provide one-to-one support that helps people plan for a more fulfilling future. The kinds of services might include:

  • Mentoring and befriending
  • Personal development programmes, including life skills and those that use the arts as a tool to engage people
  • Advice and support, including peer support groups
  • Crisis support

Activities may take place in a variety of settings, including outreach work. In all cases you will need to show us how you measure and track progress as well as evidence of one-to-one work. We will consider partnership work that includes statutory organisations, but we will not support individual applications from public sector bodies. We will not fund the teaching of English to speakers of other languages.