Learning Launchpad

The Learning Launchpad is a new model from the Young Foundation for speeding up the creation and development of social ventures in the field of practical learning. Its aim is to find and stimulate innovative ideas, wherever they may come from, and to turn those ideas into new ventures that achieve high social impact and are scaleable and sustainable.

From idea to enterprise

There are many good ideas for how to make a difference in practical learning. Most of these ideas remain on the drawing board and the real challenge is to turn more of them into new successful social ventures. The Learning Launchpad programme will be casting its net as widely as possible, issuing calls for ideas, providing an open forum for ideas via events and a dedicated website, drawing on research, young people, engagement with promising practice from the UK and abroad, in addition to generating its own ideas.

Our dedicated team will work to take the best ideas through a rigorous screening and development process, using a development fund to provide seed funding. The more promising projects would then be taken to a second stage, either with practical trials or full scale feasibility studies to get them ready for funding. The resulting new ventures will all aim for social impact, but are likely to be a mix of grant-reliant charities, social enterprises and businesses with a social mission.

Partnership

The Learning Launchpad programme is a partnership with Edge, who are providing the initial funding to get it off the ground. Edge is an educational foundation and a 10-year campaign. Edge engages with students, employers, teachers, government and the media, in order to change the way practical and vocational learning is viewed and carried out. Edge supports organisations and new initiatives that will deliver real changes and works with opinion formers, educationalists and policy makers to identify the key barriers and opportunities for change.

Moving forward

The 3 year Learning Launchpad programme commenced in Spring 2007. Edge has provided the initial funding and we are now looking to attract additional funders for the programme itself and on a project by project basis. We are also looking for partner organisations, individual advisers and good ideas for potential projects.