Deadline: 26-Jan-2026
The Bright Path Fund supports innovative housing projects that use the Private Rented Sector to provide safe, supported homes for care-experienced young people aged 17–21 in Northern Ireland. Delivered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland under The Royal Foundation’s Homewards programme, the fund combines accommodation with wraparound mental health, wellbeing, and tenancy support to create a sustainable pathway out of care.
Programme Overview
The Bright Path Fund is a pilot funding programme designed to unlock homes in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) for young people leaving care.
Its core purpose is to deliver a scalable, sustainable, and replicable housing pathway that combines suitable accommodation with structured tenancy, wellbeing, and life-skills support.
The fund focuses on young people transitioning out of care or those whose return to family has broken down after leaving care.
Who the Fund Supports
The programme is specifically aimed at:
-
Care-experienced young people aged 17–21
-
Young people with low support needs who can live independently with light-touch but structured support
-
Individuals at risk of homelessness after leaving care
The fund aims to support:
-
A minimum of 30 tenancies in Year One
-
A minimum of 50 tenancies in Year Two
Key Objectives of the Bright Path Fund
The fund seeks to:
-
Unlock high-quality homes in the Private Rented Sector
-
Provide a diversionary housing route away from homelessness services
-
Combine accommodation with mental health and wellbeing support
-
Create a model that can be replicated across Northern Ireland
-
Deliver long-term, stable housing outcomes for young people leaving care
Accommodation Standards and Location Requirements
All supported properties must:
-
Meet the Decent Homes Standard
-
Be located in areas with access to public transport, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities
-
Comply with the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
Ensuring quality housing and appropriate locations is central to improving tenancy sustainment and long-term outcomes.
Wraparound Support Services Required
Funded projects must provide holistic, wraparound support, including:
-
Life skills training to support independent living
-
Mental health and emotional wellbeing support
-
Education, training, and employment guidance
-
Mediation and crisis response services
-
Ongoing tenancy sustainment support
Safeguarding and child protection policies must be robust and clearly evidenced.
Staffing and Organisational Requirements
Projects must be delivered by appropriately qualified staff, including individuals with backgrounds in:
Consortium applications are encouraged, provided that one organisation is identified as the lead provider responsible for delivery, governance, and financial management.
Referral Pathway and Strategic Partners
The Bright Path Fund is designed to work through a structured referral pathway.
Referrals will be routed via the New Foundations Accommodation Resource Panel, once established, with key partners including:
-
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive
-
Regional Health and Social Care Trusts
This approach ensures coordinated decision-making and alignment with statutory services.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants must be:
-
Registered charities
-
Social enterprises
-
Voluntary or community organisations
Applicants must also demonstrate:
-
At least three years’ experience delivering youth support, social care, or tenancy sustainment services
-
Strong governance, safeguarding, and delivery capacity
Housing associations are not eligible to apply under this fund.
Why the Bright Path Fund Matters
Young people leaving care face a disproportionately high risk of homelessness and poor mental health outcomes.
By combining secure accommodation with targeted, person-centred support, the Bright Path Fund addresses both the housing and wellbeing challenges faced by care-experienced young people.
The programme also aims to demonstrate how the Private Rented Sector can be used more effectively to meet social housing needs.
How the Fund Creates Long-Term Impact
The Bright Path Fund is designed not only as a pilot but as a proof of concept.
By delivering measurable outcomes, strong partnerships, and scalable models, the programme seeks to inspire other organisations and funders to replicate and expand similar housing pathways across Northern Ireland.
Conclusion
The Bright Path Fund represents a forward-thinking approach to supporting care-experienced young people into stable, independent living.
Through high-quality PRS accommodation, wraparound mental health and tenancy support, and strong cross-sector collaboration, the fund aims to deliver lasting change for young people leaving care.
For experienced voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations, this fund offers an opportunity to help shape a sustainable housing model with the potential for long-term impact across Northern Ireland.
For more information, visit Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.