The first round is focused on new applicants to BBC Children in Need who are working in under-served geographic areas in the UK and have an annual income of £100,000 or less.
This round aims to reach under-served and marginalised children and young people (aged 0 to 18 years) who may be affected by challenges including poverty, discrimination, and exclusion.
The local priorities for the first round are:
- Scotland – applications welcome from organisations that work with children and young people affected by challenges and barriers connected to discrimination, for example, racially minoritised children and young people.
- Northern Ireland – applications welcome from organisations which are either:
- Situated in Strabane and Rural County Fermanagh that target marginalised children and young people impacted by poverty, or
- Reaching racially minoritised children and young people impacted by poverty, outside of the Belfast area.
- Wales – applications welcome from organisations situated in Caerphilly, Denbighshire, Monmouthshire and Powys that work with children and young people affected by challenges and barriers connected to discrimination, stigma and exclusion.
- North of England – applications welcome from organisations situated in Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale that work with children and young people affected by challenges and barriers connected to discrimination, stigma and exclusion including being care experienced, disabled or racially minoritised.
- Central England – applications welcome from organisations situated in the Black Country (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall) that target children and young people experiencing poverty.
- South West England – applications welcome from organisations that work with children and young people affected by challenges and barriers connected to discrimination, for example, racially minoritised children and young people.
- South East England – applications welcome from organisations situated in Dover, Folkestone & Hythe, Gravesham, Hastings, Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes, Southampton and Thanet that are targeting marginalised children and young people impacted by poverty.
- London – applications welcome from organisations situated in Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Merton, Newham and Redbridge. They must also work with at least one of the following:
- Care experienced children and young people.
- Children and families living in unstable, unsuitable or temporary accommodation, particularly refugee and asylum seekers.
- Racially minoritised children and young people.
Grants of between £1,000 and £15,000 per year for up to three years can cover core (organisational running costs) or project funding.
Please note Pudsey Next Steps will open again in early 2025. The next round will have a different focus and priorities, informed by what has been learnt from the first round.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 16 October 2024 (23:59).