Three Home-Starts awarded grants from the Young Philanthropist Initiative

For the first time ever, three local offices of a single charity have been simultaneously awarded grants from The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative - all of them were Home-Starts.

The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative is an international programme that originated in Canada. This year, YPI is being delivered in 52 greater London secondary schools. It gives pupils a 'hands on' experience of philanthropy that provides them with the skills and awareness to make a postive difference to their local communities.

Pupils work in small teams to research the social needs of their community. They decide on one issue that they are passionate about and identify the local charity they believe makes the most postive contribution to that issue. Pupils visit, interview and build relationships with their chosen charity and, following skills training, present on their work. The team in each school judged to have made the best presentation is granted £3,000 to award to their charity.

Three London schools chose their local Home-Start to make presentations on and really grasped the ethos of Home-Start and the unique services that we provide. This was communicated effectively and passionately to their peers, audience and judges. The result was that Home-Start Croydon, Home-Start Hounslow and Home-Start Lambeth were each awarded a £3,000 grant.

Kathryn Beatham, scheme manager of Home-Start Lambeth said: “We were really pleased to be the charity chosen by the team of pupils at Lilian Baylis School and impressed by their confidence and enthusiasm to find out more about Home-Start Lambeth. It was very exciting when their presentation won £3000 for our organisation. It is very encouraging that pupils of this age are taking an interest in the work of Home-Start and we are looking forward to putting the prize to good use supporting the children and families we work with.”

Photo- pupils from the Lilian Baylis school giving their presentation on Home-Start Lambeth

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