Inspiring Opportunities Fund

The Inspiring Opportunities Fund was established to offer children in care and care leavers (aged 8-25) grants of up to £300 to:

Develop new skills and/or hobbies
Gain new and positive experiences
Unlock potential for future education, training and employment
Spark enthusiasm and interest in initiatives that will help them socialise with other children and young people outside of school

The Fund was established thanks to the generous support of the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust.

Who can the Fund help?

The Fund can support children in care and care leavers in Norfolk (aged 8-25), or those under the responsibility of Norfolk County Council placed outside the county.

Exclusions:

Items or activities that are paid for before receiving a grant.
General subsistence costs including utility bills, council tax or rent.
Mobile phones/mobile phone contracts, driving lessons, or other ongoing costs that go beyond the life of a grant.
Help with moving house, including purchase of general household items when moving house.
General household items that are not directly related to accessing or enabling a skill, activity, or training/education/employment opportunity.

Things to consider:

Typically, for memberships, lessons or classes, up to 6-months of activity costs can be supported.
A £300 grant can be requested to cover more than one item; if doing this, please prioritise the items. The Fund is consistently oversubscribed meaning requests cannot always be supported in full.
A £300 grant can be requested towards an item exceeding this value, provided there is a funding commitment towards the balance.
Grants should start to be used within 4 months of being awarded.
If a child/young person has previously received a grant, any future applications should be made 2 years after the previous award. Due to the level of funding available, first-time applicants will generally be prioritised.
Applications can be made to both the Inspiring Opportunities Fund and the Independent Living Fund for the same young person. If demand on funding is high, one application may be prioritised over the other.

How can I apply?

Applications can be made by either a social worker, personal advisor or a VCSE provider involved in the care of the child/young person.

It is recommended that applicants work through the online application form alongside the child/young person, as there is a section for them to complete.

To begin an application, click the ‘Apply online’ button below.

When should I apply?

There will be four funding rounds in 2025/26. These align with four fixed decision-making meetings, which involve care-experienced young people. The deadlines for the funding rounds are as follows:

Friday 9th May 2025 (decisions expected last week of May)
Friday 15th August 2025 (decisions expected first week of September)
Friday 14th November 2025 (decisions expected first week of December)
Friday 13th February 2026 (decisions expected first week of March)

Call for Applications

Open

Maximum Grant

£300

Deadline

9 May 2025 – 5:00pm

Who can apply?

Social workers, personal advisors and VCSE organisations supporting children in care or care leavers

Eligible Area

Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich, and South Norfolk

Find Out More & Apply

Apply online