NYAS has a fund to support young people aged 16-25 who have left local authority care in England.
Open to young people who have previously received support from NYAS, it is our hope that the Knapman Fund will go a long way towards enhancing the future life chances of children leaving care.
A staggering 40% of care-leavers are not in employment, education or training, yet children in care are expected to live independently from as young as 16. Often these children don’t have access to the same financial and family support systems as many others their age.
This is why we’ve created the Knapman Fund in memory of Trisha Knapman. Our first employee in 1985, she continued to work for NYAS for 35 years, during which time she made a key contribution to our development. Trisha passionately supported the work of NYAS until she passed away in 2021.
The fund provides grants of up to £500 for young care-leavers. The grant will allow care-leavers to put money towards initiatives or goods that will enable them to access education, find employment, or support their independence.
Trisha’s family said, “Trisha would be delighted that a legacy in her name has been established to support the young people that she cared for throughout her career in helping them make a significant step out of supported living as they move on with their lives as young adults. As a mothering gift towards useful items and development to further individuals, this fund epitomises Trisha’s caring nature.”
Whilst not intended to replace grants, funding or any other types of financial support and services available to care leavers from statutory or voluntary organisations, we hope the Knapman Fund will help to fill a gap in support for care-leavers.
NYAS believes that every young person who leaves care should have the same ‘life chances’ as their peers who are supported and living with their birth parents. This is why we’ve created the Knapman Fund in memory of Trisha Knapman, to provide funds to applicants where such provision is likely to contribute to individuals’ continued personal development and improve their quality of life in ways which are important to them.
NYAS Group CEO, Rita Waters
For further information please see Frequently Asked Questions. To request an application form please email knapmanfund@nyas.net
If you can answer yes to each of these four questions you can apply to the Knapman Fund:
- Are you in receipt of or have you previously received a service from NYAS, such as an advocate or independent visitor?
- Are you a care leaver?
- Are you aged 25 or under?
- Are you living in England?
If you are unsure whether NYAS has previously supported you then please email knapmanfund@nyas.net with your full name (and any previous names you have been known by), together with your date of birth. We will check our records and confirm whether you are eligible to apply.
The maximum award is £500, the average award is £350.
Once we have confirmed that you are eligible to apply we will send you an application form. Please complete the form fully, providing as much information as possible. We want to hear what you need money for, how much money you are hoping for and, most importantly, how receiving this grant will make a difference.
We accept applications throughout the year. The committee meets in March, June, September and December to decide awards. Successful applicants will hear shortly after the committee meeting.
The Knapman Fund does not make cash awards. We will ask you to provide an online link to the item you are requesting. For driving lessons, you will receive an e-gift voucher.
Unfortunately, no. We would like to help everyone but we have limited funding. You will improve your chances of success if you:
- fully complete the form
- clearly explain why you need the item and how it will help you
- evidence the cost of the Please use websites such as Currys, AO, Ikea, The Range, Argos, Amazon etc. and include delivery and installation costs if applicable
- Household goods: eg beds, sofas, wardrobes, fridge freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, electric ovens, microwaves, dining tables, rugs
- Education/Employment, eg courses, books, laptops
- Exceptional medical needs, eg therapy, therapeutic activities (if not funded by your local authority or NHS)
- Driving lessons. You must be 18 or over, hold your provisional licence and have passed your theory test before applying for driving lesson funding. If your application is successful you will receive a voucher which provides 10 hours of driving lessons. For that reason applications from people with previous driving experience, perhaps seeking a refresher course ahead of taking their test, will take priority over new drivers. If you already have a driving instructor and wish to continue learning with them, they must be able to provide NYAS with an invoice.
- Bikes: pedal bikes (for travelling to work or education)
- Requests outside those detailed above will be considered on merit
- Bills, debts, arrears, credit cards, overdrafts food, daily living expenses.
- Home furnishings that you can’t take with you if you move house, eg carpets/laminate, wallpaper, paint etc.
- Items that are the fundable or provided by your local authority, landlord, carer etc.
- Entertainment/gaming devices, eg TVs, X-box/Playstation, subscription channels such as Netflix, Disney etc., mobile phone contracts
- Intensive driving courses, provisional licences, theory tests or driving tests.
- Washing Machines: £350 – must include delivery/installation
- Tumble Dryers £250 – must include delivery/installation
- Fridge Freezer £300 – must include delivery/installation
- Cookers £350 – must include delivery/installation
- Microwave/Air Fryer £100
- Laptop/tablet £350
- Pedal bike £300 – must include helmet, lock and lights
Sorry, no. The Knapman Fund provides a one-off grant, we cannot consider a second application.