We are bringing back the award-winning Ideas Made Real!
Are you aged 16-24? Have you got a social action idea you’d like to bring to life? Something that would make a positive change or impact in your community?
If so – we want to hear from you!
Ideas Made Real is an exciting and unique opportunity for young people (aged 16-24) across the West Midlands to turn their awesome idea for a social action project into a reality. What are YOU passionate about?
You could…
What’s your Idea Made Real? Let us help you make it a reality!
United By 2022 will select a range of projects that have the potential to make a big difference to local communities in the West Midlands.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to our exciting PowerPlan weekend on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of June, where you’ll receive training workshops, take part in fun activities, and meet new people, before pitching your idea to our very own panel of judges – Dragon’s Den style!
Each winning idea will receive up to £5,000 and have direct support from a member of the United By 2022 team. You will receive further support from a local organisation who will help you to deliver your project between July 2025 and January 2026.
You’ve got until 2pm on Friday 16th May to complete our online application form and submit a short video telling us your idea and why you want to make a difference to your community.
At this point we’re not looking for you to have a business plan, marketing strategy, or any policies – we just want to learn about your idea and what you would do with funding from an Ideas Made Real award.
(And make sure you save the date for our What Happens Next webinar on the 22nd May and our PowerPlan weekend on the 28th and 29th June!)
We think we’ve answered most of the questions you might have, so check them out!
Have we missed something? Contact us and we’ll be in touch
The Ideas Made Real award is an opportunity for young people (aged 16-24) to apply for funding to carry out a social action project that will benefit communities within the West Midlands. Successful applicants will be supported by our team at United By 2022 Charity and partnered with a supporting organisation who will help them to deliver their project and make a difference.
Youth social action refers to the activities undertaken by young people to make a positive difference to others or the environment they live in.
There are lots of ways in which you can do this, including formal activities (like volunteering at a local charity shop) or informal activities (like tutoring a younger student at your school).
Other types of social action include fundraising (collecting money or resources) and campaigning (speaking out about issues that matter to you).
Young people don’t have to try and save the world on their own. Taking positive actions to improve your home, school, or neighbourhood can help to improve lives and solve problems within your community.
You might already be doing a form of social action without even realising it!
Each successful applicant will receive an award of up to £5000 to bring their project to life.
At this point though, don’t worry too much about how much your project will receive – it’s more important to come up with ideas that will make a difference in your community. Our team will be on hand to help you create a budget plan!
Feel free to use the examples below as inspiration, but remember, we are looking for unique ideas that match your interests and are relevant to the needs of your community. Nothing is off limits!
Transform an unused/neglected space in your neighbourhood into a vibrant community garden. The project could involve clearing the area, planting flowers, vegetables, and herbs, and organising regular community gardening sessions where residents can come together. The garden will promote sustainability, provide a peaceful retreat for the community, and foster a sense of pride and ownership in the neighbourhood.
Design a social benefit app to bring young people in the community closer together and promote positive activities and events that they can access.
Create a Neighbourhood Cleanup Initiative to beautify and improve the cleanliness of your town. Gather volunteers from the community to pick up litter and tidy public spaces such as parks, streets, and alleyways. The project will not only enhance the appearance of the neighbourhood but promote environmental stewardship and community cohesion. After the cleanup, you could organize a celebratory community picnic/barbecue to thank volunteers and further strengthen neighbourhood bonds.
Organise a sports festival specifically designed to bring together refugees in the community. The festival could feature a variety of sport activities, such as football, basketball, volleyball, and athletics, that cater to different interests and skill levels. Participants can form teams representing their countries of origin or join mixed teams to promote inclusivity and unity. Alongside the sports activities, provide opportunities for cultural exchange, where participants can share their stories, traditions, and experiences.
Coordinate a series of community events designed to foster inclusion and support for individuals with disabilities. These events could include workshops, art exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and social gatherings held in accessible venues with accommodations for various disabilities.
Organise a cultural community food festival exclusively for care leavers, celebrating diversity through food and shared experiences. Provide cooking workshops and opportunities for care leavers to learn culinary skills and share their own recipes. The festival serves as a platform for care leavers to connect, share stories, and feel a sense of belonging in their community.
Definitely! In fact, the type of projects that we are looking for are those based on something that you are really passionate about.
If there is something in your life that brings you joy, it probably has the power to make a positive difference to others too.
For instance, if you are a member of your school’s basketball team, could you find a way of making basketball inclusive for young people who haven’t had the chance to experience the sport before?
Young people who live, work and/or study in one of the following areas (from the date of application until 31st January 2026) can have their idea considered as part of the Ideas Made Real programme:
Your project must be delivered in, and mostly benefit communities in one of these areas.
Yes! We accept individual or group applications (with a maximum of 5 people per group). All applicants must be 16–24 years old.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Wednesday 20th May and will be required at both our What Happens Next webinar on the Thursday 22nd May and our PowerPlan weekend on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June. Our webinar on the 22nd May will explain everything you need to know in preparation for Powerplan. During the PowerPlan weekend, you will undergo training to enhance your budgeting, marketing, and presentation skills. You will take part in fun activities and meet other likeminded young people before presenting your idea to our panel of community leaders and young people.
The panel will select the successful applicants, each of whom will receive up to £5,000 of funding to deliver their project between July 2025 and January 2026.
Once you find out that you have been shortlisted on 20th May, you will be invited to attend our What Happens Next webinar on Thursday 22nd May, where we will explain everything you need to know and prepare for PowerPlan. Don’t worry, you are not expected to create your full project with budget breakdowns and a plan, you just need your idea and how you want to do it. Someone from our team at United By 2022 will contact you to provide you with helpful guidance and all the tools you will need to prepare for the PowerPlan weekend. You will have enough time and support at PowerPlan to create your pitch.
Absolutely! Every Ideas Made Real participant will be supported by our team at United By 2022. We will assist you in bringing your idea to life and help you to stay on track.
In addition to this, your supporting organisation will help you to deliver, budget and review your project. They will hold and spend the money on your behalf, in line with your project plan. This is due to legal and safeguarding reasons.
Yes! We will need to contact the organisation to make sure that they are aware of your application and discuss their role as a supporting organisation. In your application form there is a section for you to include their details.
However, please bear in mind that project ideas must come from you, as a young person or group of young people.
This will have no bearing on your success or not, so please don’t be put off if you are not part of an organisation. We will connect you to a local organisation to support you throughout your project.
Download the full terms and conditions and our privacy notice.
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