The Paul Hamlyn Foundation has today launched its new strategy that will see the grantmaker increase the amount it gives away each year from £20m to £25m.

As part of the new strategy it is opening an ‘ideas and pioneers’ fund and is “embracing risk” to look for individuals with innovative ideas to tackle major social issues. It will also offer more long-term grants of three to four years - in the past its typical grant lasted two to three years - and will have a new focus on collecting and sharing evidence around the impact of its grants.

Moira Sinclair, chief executive of the Foundation, told Civil Society News: “It is a strategy that builds on the history and values of Paul Hamlyn and takes account of where we are now in the 21st century.”

She added that it is “a good blend of interesting, exciting support for really innovative new ideas” as well as “providing core funding and supporting the delivery of existing programmes”.

Sinclair said: “Our mission is to help people who are experiencing disadvantage and lack of opportunity and address those issues so they can lead creative and fulfilling lives. That mission hasn’t changed much since Paul Hamlyn established the organisation but the context in which we are operating has, which is why a new strategy was needed.”

The Foundation has announced six priorities. They are:

1. Helping imaginative people nurture great ideas – this is one of the new areas and includes the ‘ideas and pioneers’ fund.
2. Widening access to participation in the arts – this is a continuation of the much of the work that Paul Hamlyn is known for, but there will be a more of a focus on building relationships outside London and ensuring that the Foundation is focused on disadvantaged people.
3. Education and learning in the arts – this also builds on previous work and will involve supporting the arts in schools, both in terms of developing arts skills and using the arts in other subject areas.
4. Evidence gathering through the arts – this is not an open fund; the Foundation will be supporting its grantees to capture and gather evidence, which it will use to show that the arts make a difference.
5. Supporting development and growth of organisations that invest in young people – PHF is looking to address the problems faced by young people who face a complex transition to adulthood and will target groups working with young people. It will also be exploring how it can offer non-monetary support as well as grants.
6. Improving support for young people who migrate and those affected by migration – the Foundation used to have a social justice fund and is sharpening the focus to support young people who have migrated and those who face change in their communities. It will be working with partners to make sure it is not duplicating the work of others but amplifying some of that good work.

For more on what the Foundation hopes to achieve with its new strategy and what it will be asking from new grantees read Kirsty Weakley's interview with Moira Sinclair here.