2024 UK grant partners announced
Bennelong Foundation UK has continued its grant partnerships with three UK charities that are opening pathways to social inclusion. The funding supports practical actions for new arrivals to the UK experiencing hardship, or families facing barriers to accessing food and education.
Congratulations to Young Roots, Kent Refugee Action Network and Liskeard & Looe Foodbank.
Young Roots - London
In 2004, three British women returned from working on an education project at the Al Bass refugee camp in Lebanon determined to raise money to continue helping young refugees. Fast forward 20 years and that seed of determination has grown into the thriving charity Young Roots, which supports young refugees in Greater London.
For the second year, Bennelong Foundation UK funded education and health programs at Young Roots’ Advice & Support Hubs in Croydon and Brent. These hubs support an average of 650 young refugees each year through a holistic assistance model – offering sporting activities alongside education services, legal advice, therapeutic support and housing and welfare support.
“From the beginning, Young Roots has focused on understanding from young people themselves what interventions are most useful and needed. By sticking to our principles of youth participation, research-based action and ensuring a human rights-based approach, we can help young people who have arrived in the UK without support care or guidance of their families where they need it most.” Paola Uccellari, Chief Executive, Young Roots
Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) - Kent
Every year, thousands of young refugees and asylum seekers arrive in Kent, which borders the English Channel on England’s southeast coast, without their families. On arrival, they are placed in local authority care. KRAN supports these young people with education, mentoring, wellbeing, caseworker, engagement, outreach and advocacy programs.
This year, the Bennelong Foundation UK funded KRAN’s Youth Ambassador Program, which enables refugee youth to make their voices heard and acted on. KRAN will employ four Youth Ambassadors who have recently made it through the asylum-seeking process and support them to represent youth refugee voices in Kent and UK forums.
“I was very shy and now I have developed the skills to present to conferences and schools, where for many school children it is the first time they have ever engaged with a refugee. I’m learning to articulate the specific issues that block refugee youth from jobs and my voice is being heard widely, including presenting on the TV and at a Parliamentary Education Select Committee discussing child access to education.” Obaida, Youth Ambassador, KRAN
Liskeard & Looe Foodbank (L&LF) - Cornwall
L&LF tackles poverty and hunger in South East Cornwall by providing emergency food parcels, essential household items and financial support to individuals and families facing adversity.
This year, the Bennelong Foundation UK funded an extension of L&LF’s service to three new areas in Cornwall - Dobwalls South, Menheniot and St Cleer, and the Coastal Area of Looe. A pilot program will train 15 ‘pathfinder’ volunteers to help families in these areas identify any unclaimed benefits; connect families with crisis and care organisations; host awareness-raising talks with parish councils and community groups; and organise cooking demonstrations in schools and village halls to promote healthy eating and economic cooking practices.
“Cornwall has a higher-than-average level of deprivation compared with the rest of the UK because high living costs are exacerbated by a tourism-dependent economy that has led to a lack of affordable housing, limited seasonal employment prospects and low wages. It’s more important than ever that we create initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of food insecurity.” John Ede, Trustee, Liskeard & Looe Foodbank.