RankNet

Handling Covid19 – Enthusiasm Trust

by

The Enthusiasm Trust has been operating for over 20 years, delivering projects working with young people who are most at risk of exploitation and offending. They predominantly work in the Derby, Nottingham and Manchester areas and the organisation is led by Joe Russo, the founder.

When asked about what is at the core of The Enthusiasm Trust’s programme, Joe explained they have three main focuses: Youth Delivery (place based, direct delivery with young people and high-risk children), their Get Connected programme (a 6-9 month programme working with police and local professionals on developing their current strategy) and Influencing (shaping local and national policy to alleviate poverty and tackle crime).

A usual week for Joe and his team involves plenty of home visits and check-ins with their service users, hosting dance groups and youth clubs. In addition to their direct youth work, the team will be responding and reacting to their service users (antisocial behaviour, crime and relationship breakdowns to name a few of the issues that may need to be dealt with), working with professionals and agencies such as Social Workers and the Police, as well as getting on the road to secure funding and new business. Joe explained that his team deal with emotionally taxing and complicated scenarios, which means that as an organisation they must invest heavily in team culture and activities to avoid normalisation of troubling day-to-day cases.

The Covid-19 crisis has meant that much of Enthusiasm Trust’s service delivery has had to be adapted, but they are working endlessly to ensure that none of their young people are left feeling isolated, alone or unsupported during these uncertain times.   In some rare cases (and exclusively for extremely high risk and vulnerable service users), Enthusiasm Trust are delivering 1-2-1 meetings in person, but they are still having to observe the strict self-distancing guidelines and deep cleaning procedures in shared spaces. These sessions are not taken lightly and are only run when absolutely essential.

Enthusiasm Trust are trialling a virtual Youth Club, offering team-led dance sessions and FIFA tournaments, as well as general chatting and socialising. One of their initiatives is a ‘bake-along’, whereby the Enthusiasm Trust team have sourced ‘baking packs’ with all of the essential ingredients, doing social distancing drop-offs at youth club member houses for the group to bake together, all via video technology.

All in all, the service users are responding positively, most of them look forward to social contact and the offering of virtual escape from often dysfunctional and difficult homes. Enthusiasm Trust have been trying to find the balance – many of the youth they work with are fed up with being at home, which can lead to antisocial behaviour and rebellion, therefore the team are doing their best to break the cycle and continue being an outlet for youth energy and trust.

If you would like to know more about Enthusiasm Trust:

Contact Founder, Joe Russo at joe.russo@enthusiasm.org.uk
enthusiasm.org.uk
Twitter: @EnthusiasmTrust
Facebook: @EnthusiasmForYoungPeople

Update: Accelerator Winners 2018

by

On the 19th June The Rank Foundation launched applications for the Accelerator Event 2019. Every year we invite the Network to apply to pitch an Enterprising idea at our Annual Conference. This year, the Conference (and the Accelerator Event) will have a particular focus on ‘Valuing Place’. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please see our latest post on the Accelerator Event 2019.

We wanted to update the Network on the success of the 2018 winners: Nudge Community Builders and Compass Advocacy Network.

Nudge Community Builders

What did Nudge pitch?

Local people need extra support, encouragement and financial backing to take a space at Nudge’s monthly markets. By providing this support, Nudge can enable local people and young entrepreneurs to be at the heart of the markets. This funding would enable Nudge to offer spaces for free or on a commission basis if they have a good day.  Alongside this, Nudge will provide bespoke mentoring support before, during and afterwards. 

Update Spring 2019

“The Manor Street Market started this year on 31st March and is becoming a much loved date in the diary in our local area. Each market has had live music, at least 12 stalls and we have really improved the food options for people by working with local businesses.

We’ve had two markets so far this year with 5 more planned up to September and hope to invest further in the infrastructure to make it suitable through the winter. The market is improving in quality and feel. We used materials from the Scrapstore and volunteer help to make yellow decorations that have had a really good impact and have also had some promotional photos done by FotoNow.

We have had 5 young people participate to run stalls and sell from suitcases, and have 7 more booked in for upcoming markets. This has included selling sweets, popcorn making, hand drawn cards, pottery and running challenges or competitions. We have seen some of our regular community who come to our free Soup sessions now feeling brave enough to take a stall. This has been really challenging for some of them as they have complex needs and mental health issues. They have needed support to feel confident and mentoring to keep trying and to develop their offer. We have spent time promoting the opportunity to local young people at careers fairs and through the local foyer and groups. It is taking time for people to feel confident. So we are noticing that they need to come along to a market first to see how it works and tend to pop in at least twice to talk things through.

From this learning we are developing some more support and resources for young people to use around budgeting, selling techniques and pricing.”

Community Advocacy Network

What did CAN pitch?

CAN’s Social Enterprises enable them to generate their own funds and are all environment/service-based. CAN want to take waste plastic and do something meaningful with it, via a ‘Precious Plastics model’. They wish to purchase the equipment to create a new processing facility with the aim of re-purposing the 17 tonnes of waste plastics they have at their disposal. The Precious Plastic model will create beautiful products, made by adults with learning disabilities for local shops and online.

Update Spring 2019

“Since becoming an Accelerator prize winner we have been extremely busy with the Research and Development stage of our “Precious Plastics proof of concept” initiative, in partnership with Dr Dorian Dixon Msc, Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at the Ulster University. We have now completed sample stress testing of various different types of plastics and now have a significant body of research as to the particular properties and potential product applications of our recycled plastics. We have also carried extensive research into types of equipment and machinery required to enable us to produce products with production methods that enable our members here at CAN to be fully involved, so that they can learn new skills and be fully integrated into the production process from start to finish. This very important phase of our initiative is now complete and we are now forging ahead with phase 2.

As part of phase 2 we have now taken delivery of a more industrial plastic shredder following experimentation with a small bench top machine and have also ordered our 1st Plastic injection moulding machine which should mean we will start full scale production of our 1st product made from recycled plastic before the end of May.

We already have customers lined up for our 1st product, which is a tourist related item that lends itself to other applications which is part of phase 3 and we hope to showcase this later this year at one of the Rank Foundation’s events.”

Time to Shine Residential – Windermere

by

The 2017 Time to Shine Interns are now 6 months into their internships at their organisations, so The Rank Foundation run a ‘halfway point’ residential to check in with the interns and their managers.

The residential was held at the very beautiful Low Wood Bay Hotel in Windermere, and three groups of interns and their managers visited for 24 hours over 3 days. Activities included film making with our good friends Vivid Echo (videos to follow on RankNet), preparing for the showcase at the Blackpool Conference in October, Mindful Leadership with Dr Jan Goss and pottery with Crafty Monkeys.

The weather was unfortunately not kind to us, so most of the activities were restricted to inside, but the groups appeared to have a good time engaging with the activities and getting to know each other a little more.

We would like to thank the interns and their managers for traveling the long journey, and engaging so well in the activities.

Group 1:

Ciaran Rooney (I) & Joe McNeill (M) – Ardoyne Youth Club

Niall O’Neill (I) & Billy Boyd (M) – BCSDN

Laura Cloughley (I) & Andrew McCreery (M) – Community Intercultural Programme

Jamie Gargan (I) & Catriona Clifford (M) – Extern Northern Ireland

Maxi Panayi (I) & Louisa Searle (M) – First Give

Jenny Geddis (I) & Sandara Kelso-Robb – Giving NI

Meghan Gilleece (I) & Martin Reid – GROW

Alex Dukes (I) & Sunil Birdy (M) – PACE Charitable Trust

Kerri-Ann Hughes (I) & Jude McCann (M) – Rural Support Services

David Thomas (I) & Sandeep Shah (M) – The Jack Petchey Foundation

Luke Billingham (I) & Jon McIntosh (M) – The Reach Foundation

Darren Smith (I) & Jillian Miskelly (M) – VOYPIC

Jack Bibb (I) & Caroline Redpath (M) – YouthAction NI

Group 2

Rebecca Thompson (I) & Matthew Powell (M) – Breaking Barriers

Rhiannon Griffiths (I) & Jeane Lowe (M) – Centre 63

Lloyd Newman (I) & Caroline Burkie (M) – Embercombe

James Rymer (I) & Terry Radcliffe (M) – Hop, Skip and Jump

Ruby Thorogood (I) & Clare Thomas (M) – Hope Support Services

Charlotte Young (I) & Steve Lennon (M) – Ocean Youth Trust

Elona Jetullahu (I) & Chris Wigmore (M) – Soft Touch Arts

Anna Newsum (I) & Victoria Costello (M) – Speakers Trust

Lloyd Marime (I) & Jenny Antrobus (M) – Spectrum Days

Alex Marshall (I) & Lydia Hodgins (M) – Student Hubs

Lizzie Dalley (I) & Rachael McCrea (M) – Venture Trust

Sam Whyte (I) & Liam Clark (M) – Vikings Sports Foundation

Group 3

Ethan Dalziel (I) & Carina Mitchell (M) – Advocating Together

Chloe Yates (I) & Michelle MacKay (M) – Bauer Media

Gregor Aitken (I) & Clare Heaton (M) – Cash for Kids

Norrie Miller (I) & Damon Herd (M) – Dundee Comics

Max Chase (I) & Nick Parr (M) – Dundee Rep & Scottish Dance Theatre

Badar Khan (I) & Brigitta Lazslo (M) – HANA

Katie Young (I) & Dave Rawding (M) – Rank Representatives for Hull

Jodie McAlpin (I) & Mike Thompson (M) – HYST

Jasmine Wood (I) & Jan Garril (M) – Two Ridings Community Forum

Nikolaos Xypolitis (I) & Lesley Caldwell (M) – Volunteer Centre Dundee 

Gillian Kelly (I) & David Dorward (M) – Rank Representatives in Dundee

The Major Grants Process

by

The Rank Foundation only accepts applications for a small percentage of its grant making. The Pebble grants (formerly known as “small appeals”) equates to under 5% of the money that the Foundation spends on charitable activities. This can seem surprising to some who are keen to let the Foundation know of its work, particularly when they are aware of the Rank Foundation funding projects nearby.

Why do you not accept applications for the other funding?
The Rank Foundation operates a model of engaged philanthropy; this differs from traditional philanthropy in the level of involvement that we as a grant making body undertake. This includes social and intellectual, as well as financial capital, management support, and access to our wider network (soon to be known as RankNet).
Our experience suggests that by concentrating funding, knowledge and expertise in a very focused way, promoting stronger partnerships and increased collaboration, helps to ‘add value’ where the outcome is greater than the sum of each part. It is therefore vital that each project is chosen by our executives, not only for the good practice and performance that it singularly provides, but also for the benefit of the network as a whole. Our focus on three distinct issues (leadership, enterprise and care) means that we can leverage greater input in these discrete areas, working with grant recipients to maximise their impact and good practice.

How are the projects chosen?
The Rank Foundation follows a specific form of engaged philanthropy, which is research led by its executive directors. Each of our key areas is headed up by a director, which enables the Foundation to draw not only on their expertise, but also on the big picture view of the funded projects in the area. They are therefore uniquely placed to advise trustees and fellow executives on areas for further development, which can then be researched and brought to the Foundation’s attention. We are consequently able to invite only organisations which are a particularly good fit, and have a greater likelihood of a success, to go through the time consuming process of completing an application and the necessary due diligence.

How can I find out more?
For further information on other models of engaged philanthropy, please see the European Venture Philanthropy Association, of which the Rank Foundation is a member.