Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending time with some of our key stakeholders. We were holding a residential event as part of the induction programme for our new regional advisory group.
The Blagrave Trust funds youth organisations in a very specific geography of Berkshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Sussex and Wiltshire.
The regional advisers are new members of the Blagrave team, people with a range of experiences of both accessing and working in youth services in the region who will be advising us on grant making in our regional programme in the coming year.
We created the panel because we believe no one understands where funding should go in the region better than the local youth sector. We think the combination of our grant making knowledge with local expertise is essential to make the best possible decisions on how our resources can best reach the young people we seek to serve.
While young people are a vital part of the panel, it extends beyond just their involvement. We decided to build an intergenerational panel because the stakeholders for this funding stream are organisations and so we wanted to bring in the voice and views of those who know what it is like to run a youth organisation, apply for funding and report on impact. By blending the insights of both lived and learned experiences, we aim to share the power with those we seek to serve.
After a rigorous recruitment process, we have selected 8 incredible people who bring a range of specialist knowledge, skills and areas of interest to inform our work. Last weekend was our first opportunity to connect in person, where we started to build the relationships and principles that will govern our time together. We tackled challenging topics such as social justice, power and privilege and how we would ground our work in these understandings.
We had deep conversations which were challenging but it was amazing how close we felt after just a short time in each other’s company. It brought to life how important it is to recruit people based on shared values. Our discussions were further enriched by the support of our brilliant independent facilitator, Katherine, whose guidance helped us navigate these complex conversations with openness and respect.
Working with this group on our future grant-making feels incredibly promising. Their collective expertise, lived experiences, and shared commitment to our values have already shown how essential their insights will be in shaping our funding decisions. By continuing to build on the strong foundation we’ve established, we are confident that this collaboration will lead to more thoughtful and impactful outcomes. Together, we will ensure that our grant-making not only reaches those most in need but is grounded in a deep understanding of the communities we serve.
Tessa Hibbert,
Head of Grants