Building knowledge within the Solidarity Fund: what we mean and why it matters
The Solidarity Fund prioritises funding organisations that build and share knowledge in ways that help make systems fairer. We support work that helps communities, educators, and those shaping public understanding to explore challenges, share stories, and influence decisions that affect people’s lives.
Too often, research and learning efforts can feel distant from the people and communities they are intended to support. We want to change that by funding organisations that produce knowledge and ensure it is shared openly and accessibly, supporting meaningful, long-term change.
Turning knowledge into action
In the Solidarity Fund, we believe knowledge can help people name injustice, understand complex issues, and build confidence to act. When knowledge is shared in ways that connect with everyday life, it can change how problems are understood, influence decisions, and help communities work together towards solutions.
We support organisations that share ideas and help communities use that knowledge to improve systems, strengthen relationships, and make change in ways that matter locally and nationally. Some organisations focus on helping people find the language to talk about inequality. Others take complex ideas, on topics such as climate, housing, or migration, and make them practical for community groups and leaders to use in their work.
We also support organisations that encourage marginalised voices in public debates. We value work that helps communities, educators, and practitioners collaborate as equals, develop collective leadership, and influence conversations and thinking across different issues.
Bringing together different forms of knowledge
We believe knowledge comes in many forms, from lived experience and academic research to community-based learning and cultural practice. We support work that brings these perspectives together, encouraging shared learning and stronger, more inclusive approaches to understanding and tackling inequality.
This could include collaborative research, community-led storytelling, or projects that build bridges between academic thinking and community priorities. We value organisations that encourage reflection and learning, and that make knowledge widely available to help improve how decisions are made and how systems work for people.
These approaches take time, care, and trust. We are proud to support organisations that create welcoming spaces for sharing, learning, and working together, helping knowledge become a tool for lasting change.
How we fund knowledge that supports change
The Solidarity Fund prioritises organisations that help connect learning with practical change. This could mean making complex ideas understandable and useful, supporting conversations between communities and decision-makers, or creating resources that inspire collective thinking and action.
We look for work that goes beyond research or publications alone. We support knowledge-building that informs public conversations, supports learning, and helps communities and organisations make thoughtful, inclusive decisions. By funding organisations that encourage new ways of thinking and sharing knowledge, the Solidarity Fund helps ensure communities play a central role in shaping fairer systems for the future.