Hello!
I can barely believe I am welcoming you to the autumn edition of Keynotes already. The temperature may have dropped but that certainly doesn't mean things are cooling down here at Keyfund. Over the summer we distributed £55k to 204 groups with plenty of new facilitators signing up and using Keyfund for the first time.
Exciting times are ahead and I'd like to extend a very special welcome to Keyfund's two new licensees. We're delighted to be working in partnership with Excelsior Academy in Newcastle's West End and Gateshead Youth Council to support young people in these areas to access all Keyfund has to offer. Welcome on board!
This summer saw our first 'Blast' which was hugely successful. Thanks to our funders the Frederick Milburn Fund, we trained 13 new facilitators and awarded £2500 to 41 young people in one week. Lots have already gone on to register their 2nd stage project. We are now fundraising to hold Blasts across all our regions and our next step will be the 'Power Blast' to help facilitators with groups completing community focused Stages 3 & 4. So whether you're new to Keyfund or an experienced facilitator, get ready to be Blasted!
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Keynotes, which includes our well loved Christmas promise! And with that, we wish all our partners, licensees, facilitators and young people a very happy and prosperous autumn.
Take care, Hannah
The Biggest project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is the third and final event of Big, Bigger, Biggest - the hugely successful young people led annual celebration events.
A steering group comprising of young people from across the North East are organising the Biggest event. The group has decided to arrange a music event with bands, acts and DJ's and hope over a thousand young people will attend.
This fantastic celebration of young people will take place on Saturday 22nd January 2011 from 3-7pm at the O2 Academy in Newcastle upon Tyne.
We welcome any offers of assistance either in preparation or to volunteer on the day. Tickets will be available from late November - check our Facebook page for more info.
So spread the word and hopefully we'll see you there for an awesome afternoon of music!
On the 12th day of Christmas, Keyfund gave to me...
Christmas is coming and no doubt your young people will be brimming with ideas for celebrations. We want to make sure that Keyfund money can land in their hands in time.
So, we are making you a promise. If you send in all your correctly completed forms during the first 12 days of December (until December 12th), we promise we will have your cheque processed and sent out by December 16th so that it arrives in time for your Christmas celebrations. Remember, as always, your group must register at least one month before they can go to panel.
Just make sure you provide us with:
• The project costing breakdown for the full amount agreed by the panel
• The cheque payee name
• The address in full where the cheque is to be sent
We have plenty of money in the Keyfund pots that needs to be spent before the end of March, so what are you waiting for?
5 minutes with...
Carl Clarke, Keyfund facilitator with London Youth
Carl is one of our strongly valued facilitators with London Youth. Before Carl moved on to fill more of a consultant role at LY we cornered him for a friendly little Keyfund interrogation!
How did you get involved with London Youth?
I always wanted to work with young people in some capacity. While on job seekers allowance I was eligible to be on the future jobs fund programme. My details were passed on to London Youth and the rest is history.
What is your favourite thing about Keyfund?
I love sitting on panels seeing young peoples' great ideas and watching them develop the different key skills.
Introduction to Keyfund and Refresher training dates have now been set until the end of the year across all our areas. Please see our training pages for details.
Will you be our friend?! We now have a dedicated Facebook page. Search for Keyfund Federation and add us to join in discussions, find out about events and of course network with all our other lovely Keyfund friends!
