Try something out!
The Key to Find Your Spark builds on the strengths of KEY+ while giving young people more freedom to explore what really matters to them.
This programme is all about passion-based projects that spark young people’s passions, interests and curiosity. Helping them to build confidence, discover what motivates them, and begin to shape your sense of purpose.
Passion-led projects, led by young people: Young people start with something that matters to them - an interest, talent, curiosity, or idea they want to explore further. It doesn’t need to be a big dream or a clear career path.
Working in groups, they’ll think, plan, pitch, do and review up to three projects:
Build confidence and develop skills
Go deeper or take it further
The Key to Find Your Spark is about experience first. Through leading their own projects, young people begin to:
- Understand what they enjoy
- Recognise their strengths
- Build confidence in making decisions
- Develop a sense of purpose through action
This approach works particularly well for young people who may not thrive in traditional education or structured pathways.
A different way to use KEY+
The Key to Find Your Spark still uses the trusted five-step KEY+ model, but the focus across all three stages is on passion and purpose exploration.
Young people:
- Don’t need to move into social action or enterprise at Stage 3
- Can continue developing, deepening, or testing their interests across Stages 1, 2 and 3
This makes The Key to Find Your Spark especially powerful for young people who are:
- Unsure about their future
- Lacking confidence or access
- Still discovering what motivates them
- Found something they want to try and explore further
Alongside the classic KEY+ micro-grant model, young people participating in The Key to Find Your Spark can also access a brand-new individual bursary of up to £500.
This bursary is designed to remove barriers and support next steps, such as:
- Equipment or materials
- Travel costs
- Training or short courses
- Other practical support linked to their passion
As a pilot, your feedback and insight will be crucial in helping us understand how this fund can best support young people.
The Key to Find Your Spark launches officially on the 1st of March so you and the young people you support can get started then.
The Key to Find Your Spark runs just like the standard KEY+ Challenge, so you can use your existing membership credits. Projects are included as standard credits, making it easy to get involved.
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The Key