Comic Relief and Paul Hamlyn Foundation launch £1m digital fund for charities

Charities are being urged to apply for £1m worth of funding to develop innovative digital initiatives and tools.

The ‘Build’ fund has been made available through Comic Relief and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Tech for Good programme.

On offer to charities and partnerships of charities is long-term funding to develop digital tools and initiatives or re-purpose existing technology.

Successful applicants will need to show they are committed to one or more of Comic Relief’s four core areas: Children Survive and Thrive, Global Mental Health Matters, Fighting for Gender Justice, or A Safe Place to Be.

The funding is for up to 18 digital projects up to £70,000 each. It will be made available over a nine-month period starting in June.

In addition, successful applicants will be able to access technical support. Funding is open to charities with incomes of between £75,000 and £10m.

“The Covid-19 crisis has forced charities to adapt their services at pace,” said Paul Hamlyn Foundation chief executive Moira Sinclair.

“We hope that our Tech for Good programme with Comic Relief will help them to explore and develop the digital solutions they need to improve the way they work and the support they provide to people and communities. The programme is not only about creating a new product or tool – existing technology can be re-purposed or adapted. It’s about understanding where and how a digital approach can make a positive difference for organisations and those they work with.”

Comic Relief chief executive Ruth Davison added: “The Tech for Good programme will offer organisations the opportunity to build and test a digital solution that could strengthen their services and ultimately better support people and communities.

“Taking a user-centred and learning-driven approach to designing services is more important than ever: we are so pleased to be able to work with Paul Hamlyn Foundation to make this funding and tailored technical expertise accessible to charities at such a crucial time. This year, we hope the re-design of the fund encourages organisations to also apply with ideas that adapt existing products to suit their needs.

“We know positively transforming services doesn’t always involve building a new product from scratch.”