Key information
Who it's for
Charities, schools and other organisations supporting cultural or enrichment and personal development opportunities outside formal education.
What it will achieve
Greater confidence, wellbeing and transferable skills supporting positive life transitions.
Typical grant size
£25,000–£30,000 per year
Typical grant duration
1-3 years.
Who it's for
Charities, schools and other organisations supporting cultural or enrichment and personal development opportunities outside formal education.
What it will achieve
Greater confidence, wellbeing and transferable skills supporting positive life transitions.
Typical grant size
£25,000–£30,000 per year
Typical grant duration
1-3 years.
What we fund
Stepping up supports initiatives in arts, sports, environmental, educational, faith, or community settings that help young people move beyond their usual experiences, promoting individual growth, well-being, and social responsibility.
This could include developing creative skills, participating in community life, or receiving support during a transition or challenge. They may involve young people with additional needs, such as those with SEND or those who have experience of the criminal justice system. We are particularly interested in projects that build soft skills - confidence, communication, resilience, and teamwork.
We want to support young people in navigating adult life and contributing positively to society. The Portal Trust supports work that makes these experiences accessible to those who might not otherwise have them.
The change we want to see
- Increases in soft skills and employability levels, including creativity, resilience, and interpersonal skills.
- Improvements in well-being and quality of life for young people.
- Gains in community standing and cultural capital for young people.
How you might do it
- Projects identifying a particular need or gap in general education
- Projects helping young people’s artistic or musical development
- Projects connecting young people with the environment
- Projects working with young people with SEND
- Projects using volunteering, such as Scouts, Girl Guides or community groups
- Projects that work to help rehabilitate young offenders or work with children and families of people in prison.
- Projects delivered in Church of England or other faith-based settings that foster young people’s personal development, confidence, and social interaction skills
- Sports and fitness activities that build young people’s personal development, resilience, and social skills.
Who we've funded
Projects we've funded that fit into this theme:
Rich Mix
Rich Mix is a multi-disciplinary arts centre in Tower Hamlets. It was established to address the needs of marginalised communities in the local area.
Learn more
Debate Mate: The Debate Mate Cup
In March 2022, The Portal Trust awarded £31,000 to Debate Mate – a charity helping tackle educational disadvantage by running debate workshops for students in state schools with free school meal profiles higher than the national average.
We recently attended the third London round of the 2022 Secondary School’s Debate Mate Cup and spoke to Bukola about their experience as a previous participant and current mentor.
Start 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.