Make a change

1. Tell us in no more than 500 words what your idea is, who it will help and why you are passionate about making a change.
2. If you prefer, you can make a short video instead or take photos explaining your idea and upload it.
3. Get your entries in by Friday 3 May 2024.

Complete the online form now to enter

Be creative! All we ask it that your idea or project takes place in Telford and Wrekin for the benefit of people living in the borough.

You should work out how much your project will cost. The top prize is £2,000 for the best ideas, so your project will need to cost about that.

Your project should take no longer than 12 months to deliver.

You will need to think about an organisation (for example a school or community group) that can support your project and be responsible for the prize money if you win. There will need to be an adult involved to help with the project.

The winners will be announced in May and invited to an awards celebration on Thursday 11 July 2024 at The Minster in Southwater. 

There will be five prizes each of £2,000. Good luck!

I’m not sure what to talk about in my application

We want to hear about how you want to make a difference to the people around you. If you’re not sure what to talk about, use the guide below to help you get started:

• talk about how you came up with your idea in the first place, what did you experience that made you feel like doing this?
• explain how you would set up your project, what kit would you need, how would you go about it, the timescales, or the plan of action.
• what about the people this project would help, how do you see it making a difference to people’s lives, their ages, are they someone you know that you could tell us a story about?

Where can my project take place?

Your project needs to take place over the course of a year (or longer if it can continue without extra funding) in community spaces like a school, community centre or communal garden – somewhere that’s open to everyone.

Who can the project help?

Your project could help improve people’s physical or mental health perhaps a group of older or younger people?  Maybe you know of people who are less able bodied or have visual or hearing impairments? OR if you wanted to help people in different community groups such as sports teams, military families or LGBTQ+ people. There really are no restrictions, the people you’d like to help just have to live in Telford and Wrekin.

Do I need to add any supporting information?

If you can include anything you think would make your application stand out then send it to us. This could be a plan for your project, a logo or poster, anything you have that will help us understand what you would like to do. You could even send us photos of the area or people you would like to work with.

Is my idea too big or small?

We would love to see all your ideas so be as imaginative as possible, big or small, basic or extra we want to know and will be on hand to help you bring it to life.

I have an idea but I’m not sure how much it would cost?

We can help cost and plan out your project idea so just fill out an online form to tell us what your idea is etc.

I’m nervous about leading a project if my idea is picked?

You won’t be alone. As part of your entry, you will need to be supported by an adult (parent, grandparent, carer etc.) or group (such as your school, youth club, sports club, guides etc.) we can also help with further support from our team and / or local businesses to help you bring your idea to life.

Can I apply by myself?

Entries are accepted from groups only (two or more young people working together).

Can I send in an idea with a friend?

Yes, we’d love to see it, but it will be classed as one project.

I’ve got an idea, but I’ll be 19 this year?

If you’re aged between 11 – 18 years on or before 17 March 2024, you can send us your project ideas and apply.

I’m not sure what a good community project would be?

A project can cover almost anything that would improve or benefit your community or the place where you live. Think of the themes as they may spark an idea for you, here are some ideas to get you thinking.

Health and wellbeing – set up a forest school, start a new fitness or Tai Chi class, start a Lego club with older people anything that might help bring people together and help them feel better either by making new friends, getting fitter or just doing something fun.

Environment – Is there a green space nearby you’d like to improve? Do you want organise regular litter picks in your area, plant a community orchard, plant a wildflower meadow, create wildlife environments or start an allotment club?

Make a Change launched in 2023 and we had some brilliant ideas. Five of the best entries each won £2,000 to make their project happen. They were:

• Dawley Youth Club which has set up a mental health support group for young people
• Woodside Youth Festival was the idea of young people at Park Lane Centre and the event was held in September 2023 and was a huge success
• Students at Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar have built a greenhouse
• A youth group called Violets is working on an environmental awareness project
• Dawley Christian Centre is creating an under-fives garden.

All the young people involved were celebrated at an awards night hosted by Telford & Wrekin Council working with the Young People’s Forum.

You can register for details of the next application process. Sign up for details about the next application process.