Comic Relief “A Place to Belong”: Up to £450,000 for Youth Homelessness and Racial Justice
Comic Relief has launched A Place to Belong: Every Step of the Way, a major funding programme supporting organisations working with young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The programme focuses on both direct support and systemic change, with a strong emphasis on addressing racial inequalities within the housing and homelessness system.
About the Fund
This programme builds on Comic Relief’s broader mission to create a just world free from poverty, with a specific focus on youth homelessness.
Research shows that around half of adults who experience rough sleeping were first homeless before the age of 25, highlighting the importance of early intervention.
The fund aims to support organisations that not only meet immediate needs but also challenge the structural causes of homelessness and inequality.
Funding Overview
There are two main funding pathways:
Service Delivery Pathway
- Total fund: £2.8 million
- Up to £200,000 per organisation
- Funding duration: 3 to 5 years
Systemic Change Pathway
- Total fund: £1 million
- Up to £450,000 per organisation
- Funding duration: 3 to 7 years
Both pathways offer flexible core funding, which can be used for salaries, operations and service delivery.
What the Fund Supports
The programme supports two types of work:
1. Service Delivery
Funding organisations providing holistic, wraparound support to young people aged 16–25 who are:
- At risk of homelessness
- Currently experiencing homelessness
Support should be tailored, inclusive and designed to meet complex needs, often combining housing, wellbeing and life support services.
2. Systemic Change
Funding organisations working to:
- Challenge structural racism in housing and homelessness
- Influence policy and systems
- Advocate for long-term change
This pathway focuses on addressing the root causes of inequality within the system.
Geographic Focus
- Service Delivery: Limited to specific regions in England
- Systemic Change: Open to organisations working across the UK
This ensures both local impact and national-level change.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible organisations include UK-based not-for-profits such as charities and social enterprises.
Applicants must:
- Work with young people aged 16–25
- Deliver services addressing homelessness or its root causes
- Demonstrate experience and impact
- Take a trauma-informed and inclusive approach
- Involve people with lived experience in shaping services
Organisations applying to the systemic change pathway must also demonstrate experience in advocacy and influencing.
Application Timeline
- Deadline: 12 noon, 30 April 2026
The application process includes an initial submission followed by further assessment stages for shortlisted organisations.
What Makes This Fund Significant
This programme stands out due to:
- High-value, multi-year funding
- Flexible core funding (not restricted to projects)
- Dual focus on direct support and systemic change
- Strong emphasis on racial justice within homelessness
It is designed to support both immediate impact and long-term transformation of the system.
Is This Right for Your Organisation
If your organisation works with young people experiencing homelessness, or is tackling the systemic inequalities that drive it, this fund represents a major opportunity.
It is particularly suited to organisations delivering holistic support or those working to influence policy and systems to create lasting change.
