Young Brent Foundation

Charity Number: 1165871

Annual Expenditure: £1.0M
Geographic Focus: Brent

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £984,751 (total income, with grants distributed to member organizations)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Flexible rolling timeline (no fixed deadlines)
  • Grant Range: £8,000 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: London Borough of Brent
  • Membership: 120+ member organizations
  • Total Funded: 127 projects funded (£2,996,726 total awarded since inception)

Contact Details

Website: www.youngbrentfoundation.org.uk

Email: info@youngbrentfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 020 7985 705566

Address:

Barham Park Community Complex

660 Harrow Road

Wembley, Greater London

HA0 2HB

For membership enquiries: Contact Zachary Williams, Membership and Community Development Manager

Overview

Young Brent Foundation (registered charity 1165871) was established around 2015 as a dynamic cross-sector partnership and membership infrastructure support organization. With a total income of £984,751, the foundation works with 120+ member organizations to support children and young people in Brent. Since inception, YBF has funded 127 projects, awarding £2,996,726 to the Brent youth sector. The organization employs 9 staff members, is governed by 5 trustees, and engages 4 volunteers. YBF's mission is "Enabling Children and Young People's Potential in Brent" through five headline priorities: Venue Bank, Small Grants, revenue generation for the sector, capacity support to ensure contract/grant readiness, and collaboration and networking to develop cross-sector working. The foundation was shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards in 2023, recognizing its commitment to supporting diverse communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme (Rolling basis, membership required):

  • Standard grants: Up to £8,000 for individual member organizations
  • Partnership grants: Up to £10,000 for organizations working in partnership
  • SEND-specific grants: Up to £10,000 for bespoke Special Educational Needs and Disabilities projects
  • Application timeline is flexible based on member feedback

Elevate Fund (When available):

  • Main Grants: For members with annual income under £50,000, supporting capacity building including salaries, rent, and volunteer costs
  • Project Grants: For members with annual income under £150,000, funding project delivery in Brent
  • Projects must align with education, employment, or environment ("the 3 E's")

Priority Areas ("The 3 E's")

  1. Education: Supplementary schools, mentoring programmes, educational support
  2. Employment: Youth employment pathways, skills development, work readiness
  3. Environment: Play provision, physical activity, youth spaces, climate action

Additional Focus Areas:

  • Supporting SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) projects
  • Capacity building for voluntary sector organizations
  • Consortium working and collaboration
  • Staff development and organizational sustainability

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions aren't detailed, grants are restricted to:

  • Member organizations only (non-members cannot apply)
  • Projects must benefit children and young people in the London Borough of Brent
  • Projects must align with at least one of the 3 E's (education, employment, environment)
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Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

  • Maxine Willetts - Chief Executive Officer
  • Zachary Williams - Membership and Community Development Manager
  • Zorka Keszthelyi - Social Change Manager
  • Nikita Joshi - Communications Officer
  • Mohamoud Hassan - Brent Supplementary Schools Network Coordinator
  • Eszter Ban - Flourishing Futures Project Admin
  • Sogal Shahgoli - Senior Finance Officer
  • Lashay Green - Local Cultural Education Partnership Manager

Board of Trustees

The organization is governed by 5 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Organizational Approach

The foundation emphasizes an “evidence-based, needs-led community partnership model” that encourages organizations to “connect, collaborate and succeed.” Leadership focuses on creating sustainable infrastructure support rather than one-off funding relationships.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Membership Required

Organizations must first become members of Young Brent Foundation. Membership is free and requires:

  1. Register interest via online form at youngbrentfoundation.org.uk
  2. Attend consultation meeting with Membership and Community Development Manager
  3. Complete official Membership Form
  4. Create online organizational profile

Step 2: Grant Application

Once membership is approved, organizations can apply for small grants through the foundation's flexible application process.

Membership Eligibility Criteria

Essential Requirements:

  • Currently operating services for children and young people in Brent
  • Have a social purpose (voluntary, community, not-for-profit, or social enterprise)
  • Locally rooted organization
  • Quality systems including safeguarding, child protection, and health & safety policies
  • Technical capacity to deliver projects anywhere in Brent borough

Active Participation Commitments:

  • Attend minimum 2 membership network meetings per year (recommended 7+)
  • Participate in organizational development through YBF training events
  • Commitment to consortium working and sharing expertise
  • Willingness to collaborate with other members

Important: Membership agreements are terminated after 6 months of inactivity. Memberships are renewed annually in April.

Decision Timeline

Young Brent Foundation operates a flexible, rolling application timeline rather than fixed deadlines. This approach was implemented based on member feedback recognizing that organizations need time to develop quality proposals rather than rushing to meet arbitrary deadlines.

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, but the flexible approach suggests decisions may vary based on application complexity and available funding.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, with 120+ members and 127 projects funded totaling nearly £3 million since inception, the foundation demonstrates significant grant-making activity.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly stated. As a membership organization with flexible rolling applications, members presumably can reapply for different projects or resubmit improved proposals.

Application Success Factors

Membership Engagement is Critical

YBF explicitly emphasizes active participation. The foundation states that evaluation indicators and case studies are included in application guidance to help members design and develop projects. This suggests:

  • Attend network meetings regularly: Minimum 2 per year required, but 7+ recommended
  • Engage with training opportunities: Organizations committed to development are prioritized
  • Build relationships: The membership model emphasizes connection and collaboration

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Projects must clearly fit within "the 3 E's":

  • Education: Focus on learning, development, and educational attainment
  • Employment: Support youth employment pathways and workforce readiness
  • Environment: Physical activity, play, outdoor spaces, and climate action

Partnership Approaches Valued

Higher grant amounts (up to £10,000) are available for:

  • Organizations working in partnership with others
  • Projects addressing SEND needs

This demonstrates YBF's commitment to collaborative, cross-sector approaches.

Quality Systems Matter

Organizations must demonstrate:

  • Robust safeguarding and child protection policies
  • Health and safety procedures
  • Capacity to deliver throughout Brent borough
  • Social purpose and local rootedness

Evidence-Based Proposals

The foundation uses an “evidence-based, needs-led community partnership model,” suggesting applications should:

  • Demonstrate clear need in Brent
  • Include evaluation indicators
  • Show how outcomes will be measured
  • Reference case studies or evidence

Organizational Sustainability

The Elevate Fund's focus on capacity building (salaries, rent, volunteer costs) indicates YBF values sustainable organizations that can deliver long-term impact rather than one-off projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Membership is mandatory: You cannot access YBF grants without becoming a member first. Start the membership process early, as it requires a consultation meeting and approval before grant applications are possible.
  1. Active engagement matters: This isn't just about getting funding—it's about joining a community. Organizations that attend meetings, participate in training, and collaborate with other members are more likely to succeed.
  1. Think partnerships: If your project involves collaboration with other organizations or addresses SEND needs, you can access higher grant amounts (up to £10,000 vs. £8,000).
  1. Align with "the 3 E's": Every project must clearly connect to education, employment, or environment. Make this alignment explicit in your application.
  1. Demonstrate sustainability: YBF values building organizational capacity, not just funding one-off activities. Show how your project builds long-term capability.
  1. Flexible timeline is an advantage: Unlike funders with tight deadlines, YBF allows time to develop quality proposals. Use this to create well-researched, evidence-based applications.
  1. Local focus required: All projects must benefit children and young people specifically within the London Borough of Brent. Demonstrate clear local need and impact.

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