The7stars Foundation

Charity Number: 1168240

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Registered Charity Number: 1168240
  • Annual Income: £495,551 (FY 2025)
  • Annual Giving: Approximately £155,000-£205,000
  • Grant Range: £500 - £60,000
  • Decision Time: Within 1 month
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England for some streams)
  • Application Method: Rolling basis with quarterly trustee meetings

Contact Details

Website: www.the7starsfoundation.co.uk

Email: alexandra@the7starsfoundation.co.uk

Phone: 0207 436 7275

Overview

THE7STARS FOUNDATION was established in 2016 by the7stars, the UK's leading independent media agency, as a CIO - Foundation. The charity has experienced consistent growth, with income rising from £217,167 in 2021 to £495,551 in 2025. The foundation's mission is to support the most challenged and vulnerable young people aged 18 and under in the United Kingdom, providing essential support, skills, and hope for a brighter future. Their approach focuses on giving back to communities through targeted grant-making to charities and organizations working with young people who are surviving abuse, at risk of or experiencing homelessness, caring for a loved one, and challenged by addiction. Foundation Director Alexandra Taliadoros states: “Every child deserves a future full of potential and opportunity, as well as happiness and fun.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Project Funding: £1,000 - £5,000 (online application, rolling basis)

  • One-off grants for registered UK charities, council-run children's homes, or schools across England
  • Supporting organizations with turnover under £1.5m that have delivered services pre-2020
  • Applicants must have less than 30% unrestricted reserves

Shine Bright Long Term Funding: £60,000 over two years

  • Provides longer-term unrestricted support for ambitious responses to challenges
  • Includes possibility of added media and communications guidance

Child Poverty Funding: Two-year funding stream

  • Unrestricted support with possibility of media and communications guidance
  • Designed to address root causes of poverty and build sustainable change

Social Impact Funding: £10,000 over two years (up to £1,500 per application)

  • Aligned to selected awareness days (Human Rights Day, Race Equality Week, PRIDE Month, Children's Mental Health Week)
  • Maximum of three charities shortlisted, with the7stars agency team voting on the winner

Individual Funding: Up to £500 per individual

  • Applications submitted by safeguarding professionals (social workers, lawyers, school outreach officers)
  • Funds activities or items for young people in the care or legal system
  • When other routes of funding are not available

Apprenticeship Funding: Up to Level 4 apprenticeships

  • Fully funded apprenticeships for UK registered charities, CICs, schools, nurseries, and children's homes
  • No 5% co-investment required for non-levy paying employers
  • Must support roles creating impact for young people

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four main pillars:

1. Abuse

  • Services for survivors of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse (including online)
  • Early intervention and therapeutic care
  • Support for young people affected by abuse

2. Addiction

  • Support for young people affected by their own or family members' substance misuse
  • Services addressing various forms of addiction
  • Early intervention and recovery support

3. Homelessness

  • Support for young people in emergency/temporary accommodation
  • Services for children's homes run by local authorities
  • Prevention and support programs

4. Young Carers

  • Support for children caring for loved ones
  • Respite and development opportunities
  • Emotional and practical support

Cross-cutting themes: Child poverty, exploitation, racism, mental health struggles, online abuse, and barriers to diversity and inclusion.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations with more than 30% unrestricted reserves compared to income
  • Volunteer-led organizations (for Project Funding)
  • Organizations with turnover over £1.5m (for most streams)
  • Organizations established after 2020 (for Project Funding)
  • Repeat funding to previous successful grant partners
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by trustees who are Managing Partners at the7stars. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Alexandra Taliadoros - Foundation Director. Has run the7stars foundation since its inception and has led grant-making organizations for just under 20 years, supporting diverse topics and needs both in the UK and abroad. Alexandra emphasizes: “Every child deserves a future full of potential and opportunity, as well as happiness and fun.”

Liam Mullins - Trustee and Managing Partner. Has 20 years of media and marketing experience and joined the7stars in 2005. Liam states: “Forward-thinking businesses have a responsibility to give back to communities.”

Anuschka Clarke - Trustee and Managing Partner. Has worked in media for over 20 years, and at the7stars for nearly 17 years. Wanted “to be part of something good... that would hopefully make a real difference.”

Nick - Trustee and Managing Partner. Has worked in media for more than 30 years, and at the7stars as a Managing Partner for over nine years.

Helen - Trustee. Has over 20 years of experience in media and has been part of the7stars team for 9 years.

Foundation trustees meet four times a year to review grant applications and make grant awards.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Project Funding, Shine Bright, Child Poverty, Social Impact, and Individual Funding: Online application through the foundation's website (the7starsfoundation.co.uk/apply-for-funding)

Important: Applications cannot be saved in progress - applicants must have all required information ready before starting the online form. Applicants receive email confirmation after submission.

Application Requirements:

  • Detailed project description
  • Explanation of project's alignment with foundation's priorities
  • Demonstration of need and impact
  • Evidence of organizational expertise in the subject matter
  • Specification of which funding pillar(s) the project addresses

Apprenticeship Funding: Separate application process for funding employer contributions

Decision Timeline

  • Trustees meet four times a year to review applications
  • Foundation endeavors to review and provide a funding decision within one month of application submission
  • Successful applicants are notified mid-month following application
  • Current application deadline listed as 30.04.26 (specific to certain rounds)

Post-Award Requirements

  • Mandatory grant report submission six months after award

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

  • The foundation does not offer repeat funding to successful grant partners, allowing funding resources to reach as many grantees as possible
  • Policy for unsuccessful applicants reapplying is not explicitly stated - contact the foundation directly for clarification

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's own guidance and funded projects:

Alignment with Core Pillars: Projects must clearly connect to one or more of the four main pillars (abuse, addiction, homelessness, young carers) or cross-cutting themes. The foundation funded Stirling Carers Centre to provide targeted support for 100 child carers through 1:1 tailored emotional support, demonstrating their commitment to the young carers pillar.

Practical, Tangible Impact: Successful projects deliver concrete outcomes. Examples include:

  • A basketball scholarship program funded through NBC Basketball course for a young person overcoming family addiction and domestic abuse issues
  • Home environment improvements including soft furnishings and educational toys, plus experiences like attending live football matches
  • Hairdressing apprenticeship support including appropriate attire, equipment, passport, and provisional driving licence

Focus on Opportunity and Potential: The foundation emphasizes opening new horizons and creating pathways to success. Applications should demonstrate how funding will help young people “achieve their potential” and access opportunities otherwise unavailable to them.

Supporting Organizations with Limited Resources: The foundation specifically targets smaller organizations (under £1.5m turnover, less than 30% reserves) that may struggle to access other funding sources. The individual funding stream explicitly funds “when other routes of funding are not available.”

Organizational Experience: For Project Funding, organizations must have delivered services pre-2020, demonstrating established track records in their field.

Clear Connection to Cost of Living Crisis: For Shine Bright funding, applications should show how items and resources will “protect and support the children they serve through the cost of living crisis.”

Complete Applications: Since applications cannot be saved in progress, successful applicants come fully prepared with all necessary information, demonstrating organizational readiness and thorough planning.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No repeat funding policy: Organizations can only receive funding once, so make your application count - this is your only opportunity to secure support from this funder
  • Small-to-medium organizations prioritized: With turnover caps at £1.5m and reserve limits at 30%, this funder is ideal for smaller charities that may be overlooked by larger funders
  • Fast turnaround: One-month decision timeline means you'll know quickly, and should be prepared to start projects relatively soon after application
  • Four clear pillars: Ensure your project clearly aligns with abuse, addiction, homelessness, or young carers themes - don't try to stretch a project that doesn't fit
  • Corporate foundation values practical impact: Examples of funded projects show preference for tangible, life-changing interventions over abstract programs
  • Complete your application in one sitting: The online form cannot be saved, so gather all information, documents, and data before starting the application process
  • Multiple funding streams available: Consider whether Project Funding, Shine Bright, Social Impact, or Individual Funding best suits your needs - they serve different purposes and have different parameters

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