Key information
Who it's for
Charities, schools and organisations supporting young Londoners under 25 facing barriers such as exclusion, instability or disengagement from education.
What it will achieve
Re-engagement with learning, improved participation and clearer pathways into education, training or employment.
Typical grant size
£25,000-£35,000 per year
Typical grant duration
1-3 years
Who it's for
Charities, schools and organisations supporting young Londoners under 25 facing barriers such as exclusion, instability or disengagement from education.
What it will achieve
Re-engagement with learning, improved participation and clearer pathways into education, training or employment.
Typical grant size
£25,000-£35,000 per year
Typical grant duration
1-3 years
What we fund
In London, many young people under 25 face barriers that prevent them from fully engaging in education. These may include exclusion from school, poor mental health, time in care or the justice system, homelessness, or difficult family circumstances.
Some are not in education, employment or training (NEET), while others attend alternative provision such as Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), or YOIs [Youth Offender Institutions] where quality and consistency can vary. Without the proper support, they risk falling behind. The Portal Trust funds work that directly tackles these challenges.
We support organisations that help young people re-engage with learning and progress towards qualifications, training or employment. We focus on achieving lasting change. We aim to foster strong relationships with young people and the people who support them.
The change we want to see
- Improved attendance and engagement with education or culture for young people.
- Greater support to groups of young people who otherwise might be missing out is provided to access education or training for any reason at any level.
- Engaging education or cultural opportunities for young people in PRUs and YOIs, leading to better learning outcomes and future opportunities.
How you might do it
- Projects that are evidence-based with an identified need.
- Projects providing education and support to young people in schools, hospitals, PRUs, YOIs, and prisons, including those in custody or children of people in prison.
- Working with young people impacted by (or likely to be impacted by) the criminal justice system.
- Initiatives to improve attendance through mental health or emotional well-being interventions.
- Projects working with disengaged young people, NEETs, or those at risk of truancy or exclusions.
- Work with care-experienced or homeless or other vulnerable groups, such as young people from the Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community or children in a hospital.
- Work with schools and communities to improve their school attendance rates.
Who we've funded
Projects we've funded that fit into this theme:
Onwards and Upwards: Social Change Through Social Enterprise
In 2023, we awarded £31,964 to Onwards and Upwards to support them with their mission of creating more employment opportunities for ex-offenders through social enterprises.
Learn more
Vauxhall City Farm
Vauxhall City Farm, in the heart of Lambeth, uses the setting of an urban farm to provide educational, recreational and therapeutic activities for children and families.
Learn moreStart your application
Find out if your organisation is eligible to apply for funding by taking our short quiz. If you pass the quiz, you'll be asked to complete our Expression of Interest form.
