Pears Foundation, in partnership with the #iwill Fund, is delighted to announce a new £2.4million investment to support a collaboration between two of the UK’s biggest youth charities.
In a revolutionary new project, Girlguiding and The Scout Association will join forces to grow both organisations by opening units in new and existing areas to tackle waiting lists and extend reach to deprived communities. The project aims to help more young people to make a difference in their communities through social action, whilst offering the opportunity to learn new skills and have fun.
The three year initiative will see dedicated growth coordinators employed by both organisations working in communities across England to introduce Scouting and Guiding on a sustainable model, sharing learning and putting young people and volunteers at the very heart of the work. The project will also see the first time appointment of a jointly managed, Strategy and Change (collaboration) Manager.
The funding is itself a collaboration between Pears Foundation and the #iwill Fund, a joint investment from the Big Lottery Fund, using National Lottery funding, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. We are particularly pleased that this innovative collaboration of funders is able to support the first ever joint funding bid from Girlguiding and The Scouts.
Our Executive Chair, Sir Trevor Pears CMG, said: “We have been proud supporters of both Girlguiding and The Scouts for many years, and know the huge contribution both organisations have made, and continue to make, to our country. We have seen first hand the positive impact they have on their young members, their hundreds of thousands of dedicated adult volunteers, and our communities.
“We are delighted, through the Pears #iwill Fund partnership with Big Lottery Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to be able to support this historic collaboration between the two organisations, ensuring that even more young people will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful social action.”