Learn how to turn lived experience into a CIC, first project, funding plan and evidence pack — one step at a time.
Your past can explain why you care. Your structure proves you're ready.
Educational only. Setting up a CIC does not guarantee funding. Lived experience is valuable when combined with structure, safeguarding, delivery discipline and accountability.
The pathway
Each takes 4–6 minutes on your phone. You'll build a CIC Starter Pack as you go.
Tariq wants to start a project helping young people avoid the mistakes he made. Someone tells him to 'just start a charity,' another person says 'start a business,' and someone else says 'make it a CIC.' He does not know the difference.
Open sprintAaliyah has lived through exclusion, violence and time in care. She wants to help young women avoid the same path, but she is worried funders will judge her past.
Open sprintLeon wants to 'help young people,' but when a funder asks what specific problem he is solving, he struggles to answer.
Open sprintMaya wants to launch a huge programme across London. Her mentor says, 'Start with one project you can actually deliver and prove.'
Open sprintDwayne has a project idea but thinks, 'Nobody funds people like me.' He does not realise there are different funding routes depending on the stage of the idea.
Open sprintShanice applies for £10,000 but only lists hoodies, food and equipment. The funder asks about staff time, venue, insurance, safeguarding and evaluation.
Open sprintOmar wants to run sessions for young people. A youth centre asks for his safeguarding policy, risk assessment, insurance and DBS position. He has none of them.
Open sprintNadia's project feels powerful. Young people say it helped them. But when a funder asks for evidence, she only has memories and a few photos.
Open sprintKai wants referrals from schools, probation and youth services. He sends a long email about himself, but nobody replies.
Open sprintImani completes her first project. It went well, but now she needs to decide what comes next: another grant, a contract, paid services, sponsorship or social investment.
Open sprintWorked example
A £10,000 small-grant application to National Lottery Awards for All / Sport England Movement Fund. Funders expect to see staff time, safeguarding and overheads — not just kit.
| Cost line | Detail | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach 1 | 12 sessions @ £30-£45/session | £420 | 4% |
| Coach 2 | 12 sessions @ £30-£45/session | £420 | 4% |
| Project coordinator | 1 day/week × 12 weeks @ £150/day | £1,800 | 18% |
| Venue hire | 12 sessions @ £45/session | £540 | 5% |
| Safeguarding & DBS | 3 enhanced DBS + safeguarding training | £450 | 5% |
| Equipment & kit | Balls, bibs, first aid, branded hoodies | £1,700 | 17% |
| Participant support | Travel cards + healthy snacks for 20 young people | £1,400 | 14% |
| Monitoring & evaluation | Surveys, photos, case studies, impact report | £600 | 6% |
| Marketing & recruitment | Flyers, social, partner outreach | £400 | 4% |
| Insurance & governance | Public liability, accounts, CIC filing | £400 | 4% |
| Volunteer expenses | Travel reimbursements for 4 volunteers | £250 | 3% |
| Overheads / core costs | Phone, admin, software — 12% contribution | £1,120 | 11% |
| Contingency | 5% buffer for unexpected costs | £500 | 5% |
| Total | £10,000 | 100% | |
Sources: National Lottery Awards for All (England) and Sport England Movement Fund guidance. Figures are illustrative — always check the live guidance for the fund you're applying to.
CIC Builder helps you put mission, problem, project, budget, safeguarding, impact plan, partnership message and sustainability in place — the foundations funders, councils and partners look for.
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