How the awards are processed
Eligibility
Changing Lives can only accept applications from Crisis UK members who have been engaging with a Coach or support worker employed by Crisis UK for at least three months.
Applicants must also be:
- Aged 18 or over
- Homeless or recently homeless (e.g. slept rough, lived in a hostel/refuge,‘sofa surfed’ etc. in the last three years)
- Eligible to work in the UK
- Free from alcohol or drug misuse for six months
The rounds
The project has grant rounds throughout the year as well as an annual ‘second grant’ round for applicants who have progressed but need extra funding to continue their path out of homelessness.
The grants
There are three possible grants:
The Education Grant
for someone looking to take part in a course or formal training within the next 12 months and is applying for funding for course fees and/ or tools, equipment or materials needed to do the course
The Self-Employment Grant
For someone to move into self-employment within the next 12 months and is applying for funding for tools, equipment or practical costs to start up a small business or to become self-employed
The Into Employment Grant
For someone who has been offered a position or is actively searching for paid employment within the next 12 months and who is applying for funding for tools, equipment or materials needed for a particular job.
The grant panel
Decisions are made by a panel of professionals from the education and business sectors, some of whom have experienced homelessness themselves. The panel considers all eligible applications on the basis of suitability, focus and need.
Evaluation
Monitoring information is collected from grant winners after six and 12 months. The two monitoring forms are sent to applicants; support workers are contacted for assistance if there is no reply.
How the grants are administered
All grants are transferred to the support organisations which administer and control the grant on behalf of their client. The project requires that proofs of purchase equaling the full amount of the award are returned to Crisis. In the case of grant money not being spent or being unaccounted for, the grant money is returned to Crisis.
