Local organisations in Coventry, Warwickshire, Birmingham, Solihull, are being invited to apply for a grant of up to £100k to fund capital projects to help young people under the age of 25.
The Warwickshire and West Midlands-based Norton Foundation is seeking proposals as part of a drive to improve the personal development of young people through creating opportunities within the region.
Bids must be primarily focused on training, education, personal development or rehabilitation.
The announcement comes at a time where there is a lack of provision for young people due to cuts in services by statutory bodies and reduction in grants to voluntary organisations.
Alan Bailey, Chairman of the Foundation, said: “This is the eighth such capital grant we have made in the last 25 years, and we have high hopes that the 2025-2026 grant of up to £100,000 will achieve the same high level of permanent provision for young people as the previous seven.”
In the past thirty years, the Foundation has given over £4 million in grants to help the region’s youth. Previous grants have included funding a youth centre in Sydenham as part of the SYDNI community centre.
In 2005 the grant went to a substantial residential unit at Coventry Scout Council’s Rough Close campsite and activity centre and in 2010 a grant of the maximum £100,00 was made for the purchase by the charity free@last of a building to house a youth centre in Nechell’s Birmingham.
Also in the that year the District Council for the building of the Depot youth centre at Alcester received £100,000.
In 2015 two grants were made – £250,000 to Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Adis to refurbish a refuge and £125,000 t Leamington and District Scouts to build a lodge at the Hatton campsite.
A previously successful applicant wrote: ‘’The Norton Foundation Capital Grant was instrumental in enabling us to create a brand-new building dedicated specifically to the needs of children and young people in our community. Before this, we had limited space to offer tailored activities and support for younger age groups, but thanks to the Foundation’s generous support, we were able to bring a long-held vision to life.
“The new building has quickly become a vibrant and essential part of the Hillstreet Centre. The dedicated facility has not only allowed us to expand our services, but it has also helped build confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of belonging among the young people who use it.
“The impact of this development extends beyond the building itself. It has opened up new opportunities for partnerships with schools, youth services, and local organisations, and has helped us attract further funding and resources to sustain and grow our youth-focused work. Thank you.’’
There are no application forms. Submissions, limited to one side of A4 paper, should include: an overview of the organisation, details of the proposed project and its benefits, an estimated total cost and how the name of The Norton Foundation will be recognised.
Bids must be received before 28th February 2026, preferably by email to – correspondent@nortonfoundation.org or by post to The Correspondent, The Norton Foundation, Carleton House, 266-268 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 3AD.
From these bids a short list will be selected and invited to submit detailed proposals and out of these a selection will be made of organisations to present in person to the Norton Foundation Trustees.
Further details are available at the Norton Foundation website HERE.
