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  • 29 Apr 2016

PHF hosts the inaugural Cohort Day for Ideas and Pioneers Fund Grantees

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First Cohort of Ideas and Pioneers Grantees

This week, PHF welcomed the first 11 Ideas and Pioneers Fund grantees to our offices in Kings Cross, London. This event was the first time that the recipients had met each other and offered them the opportunity to network and reflect on the progress of their ideas so far. The recipients come from across the UK, with a variety of different backgrounds, professional interests and approaches to tackling social issues. However, they are united in their shared commitment to developing their ideas to support people in overcoming disadvantage and lack of opportunity.

The event was facilitated by UnLtd: a leading funder and provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK. UnLtd led the recipients through a series of activities focusing on identifying their assets, strengths, opportunities and areas for development. This enabled them to assess their progress and support planning for the next stage of their journeys. Recipients shared their plans with each other, built connections and offered peer support and suggestions to help solve challenges as the day progressed. The event was the first of two occasions when the grantees will come together: the second being a 2-3 day residential retreat, also led by UnLtd, in October.

“I thought it was an excellent balance of introductions to the range of amazing innovations that [PHF] are funding and, with the guidance of UnLtd, a good opportunity for reflection and sharing of ideas.” 

Sara Radford – Circles South West.

The Ideas and Pioneers Fund was developed as part of the Nurturing People and Ideas priority within PHF’s new strategy, which was launched in the summer of 2015. The key focus of the Fund is to nurture unusual or radical ideas to improve the life chances of people in the UK. It aims to help people test out whether their idea is the right one to tackle the issue they have identified. Funded ideas are in the early stages of their development; some may not work or will encounter difficulties along the way. The grant recipients felt that this freedom to experiment with their ideas, and the understanding that not all ideas will succeed, was one of the greatest strengths of the Fund.

During the Fund’s initial pilot phase, PHF received a large number of applications from which we awarded 11 grants.  Recipients were chosen not only for the strength of the ideas they proposed, but also for their pioneering qualities: they demonstrated a strong commitment and ability to drive their proposals forward.

We reopened the Fund to new applications on the 14 April 2016. For details of how to apply.

See the video applications for featured grantees.
Details of all Ideas and Pioneers Fund recipients.

AJP Dreams
Bristol Braille Technology
The Children’s Sleep Charity
Circles South West
Friends of the Flyover
Garage Sale Trail Foundation (UK)
Hartlepool Art Studio Limited
Louis Bonney
Mental Snapp
Museum of Homelessness
Woodpecker Court Youth Activities