Grant for Social Opportunities for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
The aim of the grant is to enable local organisations to create opportunities for children and young people with SEND to enjoy social opportunities with their peers in their local community.
We are offering grants to organisations across the county to deliver a varied programme of activities that enable children and young people with SEND to access social opportunities outside of school.
Children and young people with SEND in Herefordshire have told us that they want to have better access to inclusive social opportunities outside of the school day. In Herefordshire, there are a number of providers who offer inclusive or SEND-specific opportunities for children and young people with SEND to engage in clubs, leisure activities and social events but there are areas where there are very few opportunities that meet the needs of this cohort, due to the location or the activity not being accessible / inclusive or not being of interest to the children or young people.
We are offering grant funding to local organisations to deliver social opportunities that enables children and young people with SEND (age 0 – 25) to do something fun, with their peers, in their local community. If you already work with children and young people with SEND and would like to expand what you do, or you would like to be able to develop a new opportunity for children and young people with SEND to access a social activity, this grant is a chance to make a meaningful impact.
The limit for the grant is £15,000 per organisation and we would like the grant to benefit as many children and young people as possible. Due to this, ‘value for money’ will need to be considered in your application.
The grant funding is available to enable organisations to expand existing social opportunities or create new ones that are inclusive and enable children and young people to meet some or all of the following outcomes:
- Have fun
- Take part in interesting activities and new experiences
- Be safe
- Develop positive life and social skills
- Spend time with friends and make new ones
- Be more independent or confident
- Prepare for life as an adult
A report detailing the impact of the grant will be required within 6 months of grant funding being made available which must include details of the measurable impact the funding has had.
Timescales
All projects must be delivered within 6 months of grant funding being issued.
Reporting
An impact report will need to be completed which outlines the number of children and young people accessing the opportunity and the impact it has had on those children and young people and the wider community (where applicable).
Application process
The application process will remain open until midnight on Tuesday 11th March, 2025. Funds will be committed by 31st March 2025.
For questions or support with the application, please contact localoffer@herefordshire.gov.uk