The Foundation’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We don’t apply a rigid or fixed definition of inequality. Instead, our understanding is informed by evidence, learning and the lived experiences of young people and the organisations we support.

Based on this learning, young people experiencing inequality may include those who experience one or more of the following:

• Poverty in any form.
• Living in areas of disadvantage, including areas with low social mobility or high levels of deprivation.
• Being eligible for free school meals.
• Low educational attainment.
• Being disabled, neurodivergent and/or having specific or additional needs.
• Belonging to racially minoritised communities.
• Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Experiencing poor mental health.
• Facing homelessness or housing insecurity.
• Being a refugee or asylum seeker.
• Being care experienced.

We recognise that these experiences often intersect and compound one another.  We remain open to learning and adapting our approach as our understanding deepens and as young people tell us what matters most to them.

As a grant-making foundation, we recognise that we hold power. We commit to using this power responsibly, transparently, and equitably to support youth-led climate action.

We’ll listen to young people and communities, learn from feedback and evidence, and continually adapt our approach. We aim to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion across everything we do, from governance and strategy to grant-making processes, partnerships and how we measure impact.

• We strive for diverse representation at all levels of the Foundation, including our board of trustees.
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded into our strategy, decision-making and organisational culture.
• Trustees and staff participate in ongoing training to strengthen their understanding of climate justice, social justice, and inclusive practice.
• We ensure dedicated EDI expertise is represented on our Board of Trustees.

We design our funding processes to remove barriers, reduce unnecessary burden, and increase access for organisations led by and working with young people experiencing inequality.

Our approach includes:

• Offering flexible application methods, including written and conversational options.
• Clear eligibility criteria that prioritise smaller organisations, recognising the systemic barriers they face in accessing funding.
• Clear, accessible funding guidance and documentation.
• Opportunities for applicants to speak with us before applying.
• Proportionate, relevant application questions with realistic word limits.
• A proportionate approach to due diligence that reflects organisational size, funding level, and operating context.

• We prioritise open, trusting relationships with our grantees.
• We’ve streamlined reporting requirements, replacing formal written reports with six‑monthly check-in calls.
• We provide organisational development support through a ‘funder plus’ model, offering both financial and non-financial support.
• We review and adapt our processes after every funding round, responding to applicant feedback and learning on an ongoing basis.
• We strive for diverse representation among those involved in funding decisions.
• All decision-makers receive training in unconscious bias and inclusive practice.

• We publish all grants openly through 360Giving and in our annual reports.
• We collect relevant demographic data about the organisations and young people we support to understand who our funding is reaching.
• We review progress against our EDI commitments annually and share both achievements and challenges publicly.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss supporting the Foundation, please email The Foundation.

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