Sunderland All Together Consortium CIO

Sunderland All Together Consortium CIO, established in 2016 as a membership-based charitable incorporated organisation, unites local youth groups in Sunderland to transform the lives of children and young people amid sector cuts. Born from a Ballinger Charitable Trust initiative, it fosters collaboration, sustainability, and empowerment through shared expertise, city-wide programmes, and a collective voice for youth work. Its values—unity, community benefit, inclusivity, and long-term resilience—drive strategic interventions that have impacted 18,000 young lives annually, positioning it as Sunderland's key enabler for sustainable youth infrastructure.

The consortium prioritises youth work for vulnerable groups, funding open access and detached activities, mental health support (e.g., Good Vibes project), care-experienced youth, and Department for Education-backed Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) clubs addressing food insecurity and holiday engagement. It supports direct engagement, capacity building for members, core costs, projects, and occasional capital needs, emphasising holistic wellbeing, resilience, and collaborative models that benefit Sunderland's children, young people, and families.

Eligibility is restricted to Sunderland-based youth organisations, primarily small- to medium-sized local charities or affiliates with proven expertise and reach; no strict income thresholds apply, but preference goes to those embedded in the sector. Funding is invite-only via membership networks—no unsolicited applications or public portals—with no fixed deadlines or published decision cycles.

Typical grants range from £10,000 to £50,000 annually for projects or core support. It excludes non-Sunderland activities, non-youth initiatives, and lacks emergency funding; its distinctive membership model, singular geographic focus, and role as a sector champion differentiate it for local partnerships seeking collaborative, impactful youth empowerment.