Entries open for Shine Bright Long Term Funding Program in UK

Deadline: 30-Apr-2026

The The7starsfoundation Shine Bright Long Term Grants provide UK charities with two-year unrestricted funding totaling £60,000 to support innovative, systemic solutions for vulnerable children and young people under 18. The program emphasizes long-term impact across key themes, including abuse, addiction, young carers, and homelessness, enabling organizations to strengthen services, develop new approaches, and transform underlying systems of disadvantage.

The Shine Bright Long Term Grants offer strategic support to UK charities delivering creative and sustainable solutions for vulnerable children and young people. By providing unrestricted, two-year funding, the program encourages organizations to address systemic challenges rather than short-term needs.

Why It Matters

• Provides sustained financial support for two years, allowing deeper systemic impact

• Promotes innovative approaches to long-term solutions for vulnerable young people

• Encourages flexibility in fund usage, enabling investment in staffing, program development, or organizational resilience

• Supports charities in tackling root causes of disadvantage rather than just immediate needs

Key Priority Themes

The program focuses on charities working in the following areas:

1. Abuse

   • Trauma-informed care, early intervention, safeguarding, advocacy for young survivors

2. Addiction

   • Prevention, education, counselling, recovery services, and support for children affected by family substance misuse

3. Young Carers

   • Programs to promote wellbeing, educational continuity, reduce isolation, and plan for future stability

4. Homelessness

   • Support for children in temporary housing, refugee children, and those in local authority care, emphasizing stability and protection

Grant Details

• Funding Amount: £60,000 over two years (£30,000 per year)

• Grant Type: Unrestricted

• Eligible Organizations: Registered UK charities with an annual turnover under £1.5 million

• Target Beneficiaries: Children and young people aged 18 years or under

Who is Eligible?

• UK-registered charities with turnover < £1.5 million

• Organizations delivering services for children and young people under 18

• Charities capable of addressing root causes of disadvantage and delivering systemic impact

• Innovative projects aligned with one of the fund’s priority themes

How to Apply / Submission Process

1. Prepare Your Application

   • Clearly outline your organization’s vision and systemic impact approach

   • Demonstrate how funding will strengthen your mission, programs, and long-term outcomes

   • Highlight alignment with priority themes (abuse, addiction, young carers, homelessness)

2. Submit Application via Official Portal

   • Include organizational details, budget outline, and project plan

   • Explain how unrestricted funding will be used strategically

3. Assessment

   • Applications are reviewed for innovation, impact potential, feasibility, and alignment with fund priorities

4. Grant Award

   • Selected charities receive funding over two years with flexibility in allocation

Tips for a Strong Application

• Demonstrate long-term impact rather than short-term fixes

• Highlight innovative approaches addressing systemic causes of vulnerability

• Include clear outcomes and measurable indicators for children’s wellbeing

• Emphasize organizational capacity and readiness to use unrestricted funding effectively

• Show alignment with one or more priority themes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who can apply for the Shine Bright Long Term Grants?
Registered UK charities with an annual turnover of under £1.5 million working with children and young people under 18.

What is the total funding amount?
£60,000 over two years (£30,000 per year).

Can the grant be used flexibly?
Yes, the funding is unrestricted and can be used for staffing, programs, resilience, or new initiatives.

Which themes are eligible for funding?
Abuse, addiction, young carers, and homelessness.

What kind of impact is expected?
Projects should aim for systemic change and long-term benefits for children and young people.

Can charities apply for multiple grants?
The program encourages a focus on a single innovative project to maximize systemic impact.

Is prior experience with systemic interventions required?
While prior experience is beneficial, the focus is on the potential for innovative, sustainable impact.

Conclusion

The Shine Bright Long Term Grants empower UK charities to transform the lives of vulnerable children by providing unrestricted funding for innovative, long-term solutions. By addressing root causes of disadvantage across key themes, the program ensures charities can create lasting stability, safety, and opportunity for young people.

For more information, visit The7stars Foundation.