What are our areas of geographic and thematic interest at a local level?

BBC Children in Need operates across the UK, with grant-making teams based locally and informed by sector discussion and research relevant to the local area.

We are a broad-based funder and want to make sure we support projects that are reaching disadvantaged children and young people not strongly represented through our funding.

Geographical and thematic areas of interest help us achieve a comprehensive and inclusive portfolio of grants, representing the diversity of communities and need across the UK.

Geographic areas of interest are areas identified as having high levels of children and young people living in poverty, mapped against BBC Children in Need and other investment in that area.

Thematic areas of interest are informed by our research work, current investment and knowledge of the infrastructure at a local level.

Geographic and thematic interest are not intended to act as a barrier for organisations applying to BBC Children in Need.

Areas of interest are a part of local plans of action, inform our discussions with the sector and help us to identify issues and barriers to access at a local level.

We want to reach children and young people not fairly represented in our portfolio at a local level.

The funding landscape changes and the sector operates within a fast-moving environment. We monitor and test our areas of interest on a regular basis and will adapt in response to the changing environment, informed by our sector discussions and analysis.

How do we identify our local geographic and thematic areas of interest?

- We look at where the projects we currently fund are delivering
- We look at the barriers children and young people are experiencing
- We listen and act on a diversity of voices of children and young people
- We listen to sector organisations who tell us about the current and emerging needs of children and young people
- We listen to lived and practice experience
- We look at the wider funding landscape, government policy and research at a local level
- We consider best fit with our grant-making strategy
- We recognise that there is a complex picture of regional variation across the four nations, including ward level variations and there are needs within areas that otherwise appear to be well served.

How do we use this information?

We recognise the importance of relationships with grantees, with applicants and with other funders.

We want to be more transparent by talking externally about our local geographic and thematic areas of interest as these form an integral part of local plans of action.

Whilst an application may fit with a specific geographic or thematic area of interest, this does not mean that funding will be automatically allocated to that applicant.

We consider several things when allocating funding including:

- Evidence of need for the funding
- The difference the work could make for children and young people
- Evidence that the organisation is well placed to deliver the project
- Evidence of involvement of children and young people in shaping the project
- Evidence of good project planning
- Best fit with the funding programme
- A strong child focus to the application

Applications should support us in delivering our organisational priorities and decisions are made at a local and UK level, underpinned by local insight and work undertaken by our Insight Team.

ENGLAND

North

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for North region.

We’d like to see more applications for youth work provision across the North which provides food to children and young people alongside the activities delivered.

Thematic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people from any of the below:

- children and young people who have been criminally exploited are vulnerable to violence,
- children and young people with experience of care,
- children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

Geographic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people living in any of the below Local Authorities:

- Tameside, Bolton & Rochdale (Greater Manchester),
- Burnley and Pendle (Lancashire),
- Bradford and Kirklees (West Yorkshire),
- Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland (Tyne & Wear),
- Hull (East Yorkshire),
- Tees Valley.

Central

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for Central region.

Thematic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people from any of the below:

- gender and sexual Identity,
- early years services,
- children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities.

Geographic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people living in any of the below Local Authorities:

- Coventry,
- Dudley,
- Staffordshire.

London

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for London region.

Thematic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people from any of the below:

- with experience of care
- children and families living in unstable, unsuitable or temporary accommodation.

Geographic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people living in any of the below Local Authorities:

- Barking and Dagenham,
- Bexley,
- Brent,
- Enfield,
- Greenwich,
- Harrow,
- Havering,
- Hillingdon,
- Merton,
- Newham,
- Redbridge,
- Tower Hamlets.

South East

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for South-East region.

Thematic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people from any of the below:

- gender and sexual Identity,
- with experience of care,
- young carers,
- children and young people experiencing personal harm,
- children and young people with poor physical health.

Geographic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people living in any of the below Local Authorities:

- Dover,
- Folkestone & Hythe,
- Gravesham, Hastings,
- Isle of Wight,
- Milton Keynes,
- Southampton,
- Thanet.

South West

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for South-west region.

Please note that we do not fund work that a school or local authority has a statutory obligation to provide. Please refer to our A-Z Guidance section on schools and school-time working for further guidance on what we do and do not fund.

Thematic areas of interest:

Include projects and organisations supporting children and young people from any of the below:

- Supporting children and young people from communities experiencing racial inequality,
- activities outside of the school curriculum that help children and young people to overcome barriers to their education,
- children and young people living in rural and coastal areas where access and isolation presents extra challenges to connecting with services and support. Examples of these challenges include physical remoteness, transport, and digital connectivity.

Geographic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people living in any of the below Local Authorities:

- East Devon,
- Mid-Devon,
- Torridge,
- Plymouth,
- Swindon.

SCOTLAND

Scotland

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for Scotland.

Thematic areas of interest:

Our current thematic areas of interest across Scotland include projects and organisations supporting:

- pre-school age children, especially affected by food insecurity;
- building the confidence and aspiration of boys and young men aged from 14 – 18 years old;
- children and young people from Asian and other minoritised ethnic communities
- disabled children and young people.

Geographic areas of interest:

Our current geographic areas of interest are those projects and organisations supporting children and young people in remote rural and island communities Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2020 where their location presents additional challenges in accessing support and services.

WALES

Wales

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for Wales.

Thematic areas of interest:

Our current thematic areas of interest in Wales include projects and organisations supporting children and young:

- in the criminal justice system
- those living in areas where access and isolation presents extra challenges to connecting with services and support. Examples of these challenges include physical remoteness, transport, and digital connectivity.

Geographic areas of interest:

Projects and organisations supporting children and young people living in any of the counties of:

- Caerphilly,
- Denbighshire,
- Monmouthshire.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland

We recognise the interconnected and complex challenges and issues that children and young people face. Below are our current thematic and geographical areas of interest for Northern Ireland.

Our intersecting thematic and geographic areas of interest include:

- Children and young people experiencing racial inequality, outside of the Belfast area;
- Newly settled children and young people from refugees and asylum-seeking communities;
- Emotional wellbeing support for children in the early years, where this is provided by the voluntary sector;
- Children and young people with experience of care;
- Generic youth work in the voluntary sector that address current gaps in provision. Please talk to a member of the team prior to find out more.
- Fun and friendship type programmes targeting neuro-divergent children and young people
- Children and young people vulnerable to violence, including young girls.
- Organisations in ward areas within Strabane, Newry Mourne and Down, Mid and East Antrim, Fermanagh and Omagh.
- Emotional wellbeing support for primary aged children in the greater Belfast and Derry/Londonderry city area.

Cymraeg/Welsh

Am y dudalen Cymraeg cliciwch yma.