Deadline: 05-May-2026
The Bright Path Fund is a £220,000 pilot funding programme supporting housing and wellbeing projects for care-experienced young people aged 18–25 in Northern Ireland. It focuses on Private Rented Sector housing solutions combined with tenancy sustainment, mental health support, and life skills development. The fund aims to test scalable and sustainable housing models that improve long-term outcomes for young people leaving care.
Overview of the Bright Path Fund
The Bright Path Fund is a targeted pilot initiative designed to support care-experienced young people transitioning into independent living.
It is supported by Homewards NI and the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
The fund focuses on using the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to create stable housing pathways combined with structured support services.
Total funding available: £220,000.
Projects may receive additional funding based on pilot success and demonstrated outcomes.
Purpose and Why It Matters
The Bright Path Fund addresses housing instability among care-experienced young people.
Many young people leaving care face challenges such as:
- Lack of stable accommodation
- Limited tenancy knowledge
- Mental health vulnerabilities
- Barriers to employment and education
- Weak social support systems
This fund aims to:
- Improve housing stability through PRS access
- Strengthen independent living skills
- Reduce homelessness risk
- Improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes
- Build evidence for scalable housing interventions
It also supports policy development by testing real-world housing and support models.
Key Focus Areas
The fund prioritizes integrated housing and support systems for young people aged 18–25 with low support needs.
Core focus areas include:
- Sustainable housing pathways in the Private Rented Sector
- Person-centred tenancy support services
- Mental health and wellbeing interventions
- Collaboration with health, education, and employment services
- Life skills development for independent living
What Funded Projects Must Deliver
Successful pilot projects must deliver both accommodation and wraparound support services.
Housing Support Services
- Secure PRS accommodation for eligible young people
- Tenancy sustainment and housing stability support
- Independent housing advice services
- Guidance on tenant rights and responsibilities
- Compliance with Decent Homes Standard requirements
Wraparound Support Services
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Access to education and training pathways
- Employment support and referrals
- Drop-in or outreach services
- Life skills development, including:
- Financial literacy
- Home management
- Nutrition awareness
- Basic DIY skills
Additional Support Components
- Employment of support leads or caseworkers
- Collaboration with local service providers
- Use of cash transfers as part of support delivery (encouraged)
- Ongoing engagement with care-experienced young people
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must be one of the following:
- Registered charities
- Social enterprises
- Voluntary or community organisations
Mandatory Requirements
Applicants must:
- Have at least 3 years of experience in:
- Youth support
- Social care
- Tenancy sustainment
- Comply with the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
- Provide housing meeting Decent Homes Standards
- Ensure access to essential services (water, electricity, heating, etc.)
- Maintain safeguarding policies
- Employ qualified staff (social work, youth work, or housing support backgrounds)
How the Bright Path Fund Works
The funding is designed as a pilot programme.
Step-by-step structure:
- Organisations design a housing + support pilot project
- Applications are submitted for funding approval
- Selected projects receive funding from the £220,000 pool
- Projects deliver housing and wraparound services
- Outcomes are monitored and evaluated
- Successful models may receive further funding or scaling support
The programme prioritizes evidence-building and scalability.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants and providers should avoid:
- Focusing only on housing without support services
- Ignoring tenancy sustainment or legal compliance
- Lack of safeguarding policies for young people
- Underestimating mental health support needs
- Weak collaboration with external services
- Designing non-scalable or non-replicable models
Strong applications combine housing + holistic support systems.
Key Benefits of the Fund
The Bright Path Fund provides multiple system-level benefits:
- Improves housing stability for vulnerable youth
- Reduces risk of homelessness after care
- Strengthens independence and life skills
- Builds cross-sector collaboration models
- Generates evidence for future policy and funding decisions
FAQs
What is the Bright Path Fund?
It is a £220,000 pilot funding programme supporting housing and wellbeing projects for care-experienced young people aged 18–25 in Northern Ireland.
Who can apply?
Registered charities, social enterprises, and voluntary/community organisations with at least three years of relevant experience.
What type of housing is required?
Projects must provide Private Rented Sector accommodation that meets the Decent Homes Standard and complies with Northern Ireland tenancy laws.
What support services must be included?
Support must include tenancy sustainment, mental health support, life skills training, and access to education and employment services.
Is additional funding available?
Yes, additional funding may be provided if pilot outcomes are successful and scalable.
What age group is targeted?
The programme supports care-experienced young people aged 18–25 with low support needs.
Can organisations use cash-based support?
Yes, the use of cash transfers as part of support delivery is encouraged.
Conclusion
The Bright Path Fund is a targeted pilot initiative designed to improve housing stability and life outcomes for care-experienced young people.
By combining Private Rented Sector housing with structured tenancy, mental health, and life skills support, the programme aims to create scalable and evidence-based housing models.
For more information, visit Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.