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Do It For Real

Comic Relief and UnLtd.
Grantholders

The Do It For Real programme, launched in 2015, was a collaboration between Spirit of 2012, Comic Relief, and UnLtd. Designed to empower young people to make positive changes in their communities, the initiative combined social action, fundraising, access to resources, and community events.

Project information

£903,597.50

Grant amount

December 2014

Date awarded

Jan 2015 – Sept 2017

Project duration

UK-wide

Location

In partnership with:
UnLtd, Comic Relief
Download the Do It For Real Impact and Learning final report

Project Detail

Project summary

Over its three-year span, the Do It For Real programme inspired thousands of young people across the UK to act and make changes in their own communities. In 2016, the programme expanded with the Good Sports Wanted campaign, which encouraged youth groups to use Sport Relief as a platform for community events. These events brought people together, raised funds for good causes, and highlighted the talents and energy of young people.

Do It For Real was created to support young people to make a positive difference in their communities. Building on the momentum of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the programme worked with 25 partner organisations and a network of volunteers to identify and back 341 young people as they developed and launched social ventures. Over three years, participants received funding, mentoring, and skills training to help turn their ideas for social change into practical projects.

Mentoring

Do It For Real provided participants with a range of resources and opportunities beyond just financial aid. One of the key elements of the Do It For Real programme was its focus on mentoring. Each participant was paired with an experienced mentor who can provide guidance, advice, and support throughout the journey of developing their social venture. Mentors come from a variety of backgrounds including business, social enterprise, and non-profit sectors, and are carefully matched with participants based on their specific needs and experience.

 

Impact & Learning

Key learnings

An independent evaluation of Do It For Real highlighted several key outcomes:

  • The programme reached a broader and more diverse group of young people than previous initiatives, including increased engagement with those from minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled young people, and individuals without a university degree.
  • The majority of participants reported increased confidence, improved problem-solving ability, and stronger networks as a result of their involvement.
  • Many social ventures focused on supporting other young people through services such as mental health support, skills development, and access to employment or housing. This contributed to a culture of peer-led support within communities.
  • Sustained impact was observed, with most ventures continuing beyond the first year of support.
    Lessons from the programme have informed future approaches, emphasising the importance of working with local partners, tailored support, and peer-to-peer learning

341

young people

young people received awards totalling £483,117

9,000

people

benefited from ventures led by Do It For Real participants

33%

of participants

were from black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds

64%

of participants

had not completed a university degree

83%

of participants

reported developing skills in problem-solving, leadership, or communication

90%

of participants

felt more confident to act for social benefit

79%

of ventures

were still running 12 moths after funding ended

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