Young Harrow Foundation

Charity Number: 1163589

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M
Geographic Focus: Harrow

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,080,000 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified - varies by program
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £16,000 (Harrow Change Makers program)
  • Geographic Focus: London Borough of Harrow only
  • Membership Required: Yes - free for eligible organisations

Contact Details

  • Website: youngharrowfoundation.org
  • Email: admin@youngharrow.org
  • Phone: 020 8429 8592
  • Address: London Borough of Harrow

Overview

Founded in 2015 by Dan Burke, Young Harrow Foundation is a membership charity dedicated to promoting efficiency and effectiveness in organisations working with children and young people in the London Borough of Harrow. With a total income of £1.38 million and grant-making of £1.08 million in 2023-24, the foundation has grown significantly from its initial £30,000 funding pot to now distributing £1.4 million annually. Over its first seven years, YHF unlocked over £8 million through grants and supported partnerships. The foundation supports 70 full member organisations and 210 associate members across a network of over 280 organisations. Their strategic approach is informed by regular youth needs analyses, most recently the HAY Harrow 2025 survey of nearly 8,000 young people aged 9-18, which identified five key priorities: mental health and resilience, physical activity and healthy routines, digital life and online safety, feeling safe in school and community, and planning for the future.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Harrow Change Makers Programme (Main grant program)

  • Main Grant: Up to £16,000
  • Small Grant: Up to £8,000 (first-time applicants encouraged to request £5,000 or less)
  • Core Costs Support: Up to £5,000 additional funding available through John Lyon's Charity
  • Application method: Fixed deadline (November 2025 for current round)
  • Eligibility: YHF members only

In 2024, Harrow Change Makers funded 21 organisations with £226,863 in total grants, supporting 2,253 young people. The programme is in its third year of a three-year initiative backed by Deo Duce Foundation, Harrow Council, Harrow School, John Lyon's Charity, and Orley Farm School.

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

  • Distributed over £467,000 in direct grants for Easter and Summer 2023
  • Funded 23 organisations
  • Provides free activities, nutritious meals, and safe spaces during school holidays

Additional Grant Opportunities

  • Annual Small Grants for members
  • Yearly Harrow Change Maker Grants
  • Ad-hoc funding programs

Priority Areas

Based on the HAY Harrow 2025 survey of nearly 8,000 young people, funding focuses on four key areas:

  • 17% of young people worry about family running out of food
  • 6% live in temporary accommodation
  • 38% feel unsafe in certain areas of Harrow
  • 44% do not feel safe where they live “some or all of the time”
  • 74% report feeling “often or sometimes anxious or nervous”
  • Primary school-aged children (KS2) reported highest anxiety rate at 76%
  • 14% say cost prevents them from doing preferred sports/exercise
  • 18% report no suitable nearby spaces for physical activity

Additional funded areas include:

  • Self-harm support
  • Neurodiversity support
  • Support for refugees (Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan)
  • Young carer programmes
  • Mental health and fitness programmes
  • Performing arts initiatives

What They Don't Fund

  • Organisations not based in the London Borough of Harrow
  • Organisations not working directly with children and young people
  • Non-member organisations (membership is free but required)
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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Staff:

  • Dan Burke, CEO and Founder
  • Glenys Tolley, COO
  • Hannah Court, Finance and Office Manager
  • Ceri Morris, Partnerships Manager

Board of Trustees:

  • Clare Harrington, Chair
  • Steve Williams, Vice Chair
  • Alan Rajah, Treasurer
  • Additional trustees with diverse professional backgrounds in healthcare, education, and community development

Leadership Quotes

Dan Burke on the foundation's growth: “We have gone from giving out a £30k pot of funding, to now being responsible for giving out £1.4 million a year locally.”

On building trust with local organisations: "Smaller charities had very little capacity and stability to be able to look at sustainable funding strategies... they didn't need someone else only sitting in meetings trying to influence policy - they needed a partner that would help them to see real tangible benefits and value, quickly!"

On mental health services: "Voluntary services in Harrow are already a life-line to so many young people. It's great that this funding will enable them to extend their reach and offer new and innovative services."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Become a Member (Required)

  • Free membership available through the website
  • Two membership tiers:
  • Full Members: Charities with annual turnover under £1 million
  • Associate Members: Charities over £1 million
  • Must work directly with children and young people in Harrow

Step 2: Submit Application

  • Applications through online system
  • Must demonstrate alignment with HAY Harrow 2025 Report priorities
  • Organizations can apply for only one grant strand per round
  • First-time applicants to Small Grant strand encouraged to request £5,000 or less

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified and vary by program. Harrow Change Makers operates on fixed annual rounds with specific deadlines.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, in 2024, the Harrow Change Makers programme funded 21 organisations out of the member base of approximately 70 full members and 210 associate members.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Evidence Base

Applications must address issues identified in the HAY Harrow 2025 Report, which surveyed nearly 8,000 young people. Successful applicants demonstrate clear understanding of:

  • The four priority areas (poverty, safety, mental health, physical health)
  • Specific statistics from the survey
  • How their project directly responds to young people's expressed needs

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Musical Theatre Programme (Flash Musicals): Children and young people write scripts, create choreography, and compose songs for live performances
  • Mental health and wellbeing programmes for ages 5-15
  • Support services for diverse communities including Romanian, Iranian, Afghan, and Tamil populations
  • Self-harm support initiatives
  • Neurodiversity support programmes
  • Young carer programmes
  • Mental health and fitness combined initiatives

Relationship Building

The foundation emphasizes partnership and collaboration. Dan Burke's vision was to create “real tangible benefits and value, quickly” for member organisations. Success factors include:

  • Active participation in YHF membership network
  • Engagement with training and development opportunities
  • Attendance at networking events
  • Building relationships before applying

Member Benefits That Support Success

  • One-to-one funding assistance to strengthen applications
  • Access to Level Up Youth Work Programme
  • Monthly support surgeries
  • Annual membership review meetings
  • Funded and free training workshops
  • Website profile visibility

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses youth-centered language focused on:

  • “Thriving sector” of organisations
  • “Fit for purpose” delivery
  • “Improved outcomes for children and young people”
  • Evidence-based approaches
  • Youth voice and co-production

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Membership is mandatory but free - Join as early as possible to access support services and build relationships with the foundation team before applying.
  1. Evidence-based applications win - Ground your application in the HAY Harrow 2025 Report findings. Reference specific statistics and demonstrate how your project responds to what young people actually said they need.
  1. Start small if you're new - First-time applicants to the Small Grant strand are encouraged to request £5,000 or less, suggesting the foundation values testing new relationships before larger investments.
  1. Core costs are available - Up to £5,000 in additional core cost support is available through John Lyon's Charity partnership - don't forget to explore this alongside project funding.
  1. Use their support services - Take advantage of one-to-one funding assistance before submitting applications. This insider guidance can significantly strengthen your proposal.
  1. Geographic focus is strict - Must work directly with children and young people in the London Borough of Harrow only. No exceptions appear to be made for this criterion.
  1. Engage with the network - The foundation values active participation in their membership community. Attend networking events, training sessions, and support surgeries to demonstrate commitment to the sector.

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