The Boulding Foundation is delighted to have awarded £10,310 to theASCENT, supporting its work with young people in partnership with the Diocese of Hallam. The grant fully funds the organisation’s Tier 2 partnership package, helping to expand opportunities for young people to deepen their faith, develop leadership skills and serve their communities.
theASCENT is a three-year discipleship programme for Catholic young people in Years 10–12, helping them embrace their faith more deeply while equipping them to share it with others. Through formation weekends, mentoring, leadership development and community, participants are encouraged to become confident young disciples and leaders within the Church.
The Foundation’s funding is helping to establish and strengthen theASCENT’s Matlock location, which serves young people from across the Diocese of Hallam. By investing in both participants and the programme itself, the grant will help ensure that more young people can access high-quality faith formation, regardless of their financial circumstances.
The grant will:
- Provide bursary support so that financial circumstances do not prevent young people from participating.
- Enable young leaders from theASCENT to continue their formation through the postgraduate leadership programme.
- Support marketing and outreach, helping theASCENT reach more young people across the Diocese of Hallam.
- Contribute towards the salaries of staff delivering the Hallam and Nottingham programme.
- Fund training for the local leadership team, ensuring participants receive high-quality formation and pastoral support.
Together, these investments strengthen not only the experience of individual participants but also the long-term sustainability of theASCENT’s work in the region.
Commenting on the award, Deirdre Boulding, Trustee of The Boulding Foundation, said:
“The Boulding Foundation is committed to investing in opportunities that enable young people to flourish. theASCENT is developing confident, compassionate young leaders who will make a positive difference in their parishes, schools and communities. We are delighted to support this important work and to help ensure that financial circumstances are never a barrier to taking part.”
Em Leakey, National Deputy Director of theASCENT, added:
“We feel very grateful for the support the Boulding Foundation has given us. The money received has helped build our theASCENT location in Matlock, which serves young people from the Hallam Diocese. The grant has also provided funds to cover bursaries for young people who otherwise could not afford theASCENT. Thank you!”
The Boulding Foundation believes that investing in young people creates benefits that extend far beyond the individuals directly involved. As participants grow in faith, confidence and leadership, they become role models within their churches and communities, helping to inspire the next generation.
By supporting theASCENT, the Foundation is investing not simply in a programme, but in a generation of young leaders who will help shape the future of the Church through faith, service and leadership.
