At some stage, almost all of us rely on the "bank of mum and dad" to thrive in life. Not having family to turn to at “fork in the road" moments can be a huge barrier to progress for the young people we support. Whether it’s applying for a piece of ID, a training course, getting transport or clothes for an interview or help with toiletries and food when things get tight, a small sum at just the right moment can mean the difference between grasping or missing an opportunity.

So we asked Cambridge Building Society to seed an alternative “bank of mum and dad” to enable young people to take opportunities and to provide a safety net. They've agreed - generously funding £22,500k over a three year period!

As well as being able to access small pots of money at critical points, it means so much that our young people feel the support of their wider community backing them as they venture into the adult world.

The funds seeded by The Cambridge Building Society will be ring-fenced, and we invite other donors to top-up the starting pot. If you’d like to contribute to the “bank of mum and dad” fund, perhaps in recognition of the support you yourself received as a young person, please visit donate now - and you can also include GiftAid if you’re a UK tax payer. Thank you!!