Reflecting on our learning
As 2022 begins, we look back at what we’ve learned through our grant-making over the last year.
2021 was a year of uncertainty and unprecedented challenges. These publications bring together learning across the areas in which we work and some of the insights we would like to take forward in the year ahead.
A year like no other
This review explores what we learned through our UK grant-making over the past year in the context of the challenges of Covid-19. The case studies share how some of the inspiring organisations and individuals we support adapted their work in the pandemic. This work will inform our thinking about how best to support those we fund to respond to the ongoing challenges, and develop our grant-making practice.
Shared Ground Fund: Theory of Change
Our Shared Ground Fund supports organisations to influence migration system reform, improve access to support services, strengthen civic participation and inform public understanding of migration and integration narratives. Developed with the support of our learning partners, Sophie Ahmad and Shelley Dorans, this updated Theory of Change outlines the aspirations of the Fund, our analysis of how positive change might happen, our role in facilitating that change, and the types of work we’re keen to support.
We also want to open up a dialogue with the migration sector and the wider social justice movement about how, together, we might achieve change – to encourage people to give us their feedback, we invited colleagues working in and beyond the sector to share their thoughts on the Theory of Change in the blogs below:
- Alex Sutton, Head of Programme – Migration, Paul Hamlyn Foundation
- Cassie Robinson, Deputy Director of Funding Strategy at The National Lottery Community Fund
- Peninah Wangari-Jones, Director at the Racial Justice Network
- Dylan Fotoohi, Director of Refugees for Justice
Racial Justice Audit Analysis of PHF’s UK Grant-making 2020/21
We applied the Funders for Race Equality’s racial justice audit tool to all our grant-making in 2020–21. This analysis looks at our portfolios in terms of the proportion of grants and funds awarded in support of Black or minoritised-led organisations and projects. The tool has given us a new perspective on our grant-making and will inform shifts in our practice towards our commitments to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Asset-based working with young people
Our Youth Fund supports organisations that work with young people in a way that embraces their capability and potential – part of “asset-based working.” To help youth organisations to understand how this approach works and what it looks like in practice, we asked Cloud Chamber to develop case studies with three of the organisations we fund: GirlDreamer, OTR and The Warren Youth Project, illustrated by Hazel Mead.