SWITCH UP 2008
SWITCH Up provides funding for guiding and non-guiding girls and young women from England, aged ten to 25 to participate in opportunities that otherwise may not be possible for them.
SWITCH and the Big Lottery Fund
In 2005 Girlguiding UK was awarded a £1.2 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund for Project SWITCH. The aim was to help young women from a wide variety of backgrounds to gain a voice.
The Big Lottery Fund is committed to improving the lives of communities most in need. Its Young People's National Grants Programme aims to support innovative projects that make a significant difference to the lives of young people.
Grants of up to £2000 for groups and individuals are available to help overcome social and economic barriers. These include those affected by issues such as:
Youth Panels
Six regional Youth Panels meet up four times a year to review applications and decide where grants are given. The Chair of each Youth Panel also makes up the project's steering group to advise and monitor its progress.
Applying for a grant
To apply, please read the criteria form, complete an application form and return it to Commonwealth Headquarters two weeks before the next meeting.
You will be sent an acknowledgement letter for your application and you should receive a letter within two weeks after the meeting to state whether you have been successful or not. Following that, if you have been successful, the cheque will be sent to you.
For more detailed information and to download an application form or for information on other grants you could apply for take a look at the Project SWITCH website www.projectSWITCH.org.uk
What have grants already been awarded for?
In Anglia, the SWITCH Up Youth Panel awarded £400 for a day boat trip, for Guides with severe disabilities. The grant includes one to one care for each participant. The grant was applied for by an able bodied Guide who had identified the need of the group and used the grant to help overcome the barrier of social inclusion.
The North East Youth Panel has awarded £2000 towards a team building weekend with first aid and other training, to help the personal and social development of the unit.
In LaSER, the Youth Panel awarded £200 to an individual Guide, helping her to overcome the economic barrier which prevented her from attending Summer Camp with her Unit.
The South West Youth Panel has awarded a grant of £2000 to help improve a local Unit’s facilities. The grant will go towards the demolition of an old guide hut to make it ready for the new building.
The Midlands Youth Panel has awarded £300 towards a team building weekend for a Ranger unit. The Rangers will add this to their fundraising total and have organised a weekend in London – a new opportunity for the entire Unit and one which enables the group to overcome rural isolation.
In the North West, the SWITCH Up Youth Panel has awarded £220 to allow a unit to take part in a trip to Waddow, allowing the unit to participate in an activity otherwise unavailable to them.
Grants were also given to help with laptops, camping equipment, a fun day, a media workshop and a kitchen refurbishment of a local unit meeting place.
Applicants have been thinking up new and inventive projects to support community needs, empower young women and help overcome the social and economic barriers for both groups and individuals – we look forward to hearing from you!