What is the aim of the Ukraine Community Play Fund?
The aim of the Ukraine Community Play Fund, sponsored by LEGO Foundation, is to support existing groups and individuals (once they form a team) in Ukraine to either start a new project from a selection of available projects or to expand an existing project that improve community wellbeing, ultimately improving the quality of life for community members. Communities choose the project they want to start based on their community’s needs, from a portfolio of ideas on the ChangeX site, or alternatively submit an existing project, once it meets the criteria outlined in the following section. Once the applicant has demonstrated their commitment and ability to start the community project by successfully completing a 30 Day Challenge on the ChangeX website, ChangeX will provide funding, information guides and support to give the applicant the best chance of success. In addition, once the applicant has demonstrated the impact the new project is having in their community, they will receive a further installment of funding to support the maintenance of the project. All projects should be managed in an inclusive and welcoming manner, and any events organised as part of your project should comply with any relevant public health guidance.
ChangeX does not encourage/oblige applicants to start and/or proceed with a project in a risky and/or unsafe environment (this includes implementation in occupied territories or territories not fully controlled by Ukrainian authorities due to increased risk).
Every starter in Ukraine should exercise additional safety measures to prevent any accident, loss, damage or harm towards any person, child or property.
The starter shall obey the martial law in Ukraine including following the curfew rules, as well as comply with all other local laws, rules, and regulations.
The individual starter shall do their best to assure that the team is able to finish the project in case the other team members or the starter himself/herself is required to fulfill any unforeseen obligations imposed on him/her by the laws concerning military service. In the case that the project is no longer feasible or poses a danger to continue, ChangeX will request that the funding be returned if possible.
Criteria
The following criteria must be met by all applicants:
Projects must take place within Ukraine.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old or have the permission of a guardian to apply for funding.
Applicants must provide a certificate of clean criminal record or equivalent or in the case of organizations, registration of the legal entity.
Applicants must not be political figures or political organisations.
Opening date
The challenge opens for applications on June 25, 2024. Registrations for projects will close on August 05, 2024. Applicants will be notified by September 16, 2024 as to whether they have been allocated funding and can progress with the 30 Day Challenge or whether they have been unsuccessful.
Who can apply?
The Ukraine Community Play Fund is open to existing groups and individuals (once they form a team) in Ukraine to start new projects in their community, from the portfolio of ideas on the ChangeX site, that improve community wellbeing. Examples of eligible groups include schools, universities, colleges, daycares, churches or other faith-based organizations, hospitals and hospital rehabilitation centres, mental health facilities, community gardens, neighbourhood groups, senior centres, and community centres.
Political figures and/or political organisations are not eligible to apply.
Religious figures and/or religious organisations are eligible to apply as long as projects are inclusive of all community members regardless of religious beliefs or lack thereof.
What can the funding be used for?
The Ukraine Community Play Fund is for new projects and can be used to cover direct costs relating to the set-up or maintenance of the new project. For example, funds can be used for play materials, building materials, space rental, insurance fees, seeds and planting materials, tools, training fees; pretty much any materials you might need to start a new project that benefits your community.
ChangeX shall not be held liable to reimburse any costs that are incurred by applicants, prior to the release of funds by ChangeX. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may seek written approval from ChangeX to incur costs ahead of the release of funds. Written approval will be granted at the sole discretion of ChangeX. Payments will only be made if ChangeX finds that all relevant requirements are met.
Any potential tax consequences, reporting requirements, and consents from third parties are solely the responsibility and liability of the recipient of the funding.
What can the funding not be used for?
Funds may not be used to promote or engage in criminal acts of violence, terrorism, hate crimes, the destruction of any state, or discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, religion, military and veteran status, disability, sex, age, gender identity or sexual orientation, or support of any entity that engages in these activities.
Community groups outside of Ukraine are not eligible for funding. The fund cannot be used to cover costs of work that has already been carried out and can’t be used for anything that is not related to the set-up and maintenance of the new community project. It cannot be used to cover the promotion of religious causes, non-charitable activities, sponsorship or fundraising events. Funds cannot be used as payment to group members for their work on the project.
Reporting Requirements and Funding
In return for any funding you may receive, you are required to share the outcomes of your new project with ChangeX.
The funding allocated to your new project is divided into two stages. The first payment (70% of total funding amount) can be accessed upon successful completion of a 30 Day Challenge on the ChangeX website. For individuals or organizations who choose to replicate one of the available projects on ChangeX, during the 30 Day Challenge, several steps that demonstrate the commitment and ability of you or your community group to start or expand the project are taken. These include scheduling a support call with a ChangeX team member; setting up a team meeting; sharing a photo of your team meeting and providing a narrative on what you will spend the funding on, your next steps as a group, and how you hope the project will ultimately benefit your community. For individuals or organizations who are selected to receive funding to expand an existing project, the 30 Day Challenge only requires that you confirm that you have read a document about the impact reporting requirements after being notified of their successful grant application and before receiving the first payment.
The second payment (30% of total funding amount) will be issued to you after you have completed an impact survey demonstrating the outcomes of your project. The impact survey will be accessible to complete on your page on the ChangeX platform from three months after you applied to start the project. You will be sent email reminders about completing this survey and will have up to six months after you originally applied to complete it. You will be asked to answer questions such as the number of beneficiaries impacted by your project, as well as specific questions related to the idea you have started (for example: number of items repaired, or number of trees planted). At this stage, you will also be asked to share photos that show your project is up and running and having an impact. These photos should show your group in action and should ideally be taken at any significant events, for example: planting events, harvesting events, trainings, workshops or planning meetings and should include as many of your organising group and beneficiaries as is safely possible.
It is very important that you keep all receipts and records of how any funding you might receive is spent, as ChangeX will collect and review these receipts before releasing the second instalment of funding. If receipts cannot be shown, if the funds are found to have been spent on costs other than those relating to the set-up or maintenance of the new community project, or if the project has not met the requirements of the initial project plan, no further funds will be allocated to this project and ChangeX reserves the right to retrieve the funds that have already been distributed. The applicant will be indefinitely ineligible to apply for any subsequent grants through ChangeX.
Multiple applications
Each applicant is only eligible to submit one application to receive funding. Projects taking place at the same location must be different and complementary.
Family
Family and close relatives of ChangeX employees or of LEGO Foundation employees are not eligible to apply for funding.
How to apply
Once you have ensured that you meet all of the criteria above, you can go to the fund page and choose one of two routes; either select your preferred idea from the portfolio of proven ideas and register to start it; or alternatively, if you are already working on a project in your community that you want to expand, select the option to submit your own project. The amount of funding available for your project depends on which idea you chose to start. Funding amounts generally range from 18,000 ₴ to 185,000 ₴ for the proven portfolio ideas (the amount of funding available per idea can be found on the webpage of each idea; funding amounts align with the cost of starting each project). For your own, existing community project, there are three available price points, of 30,000 ₴, 90,000 ₴ and 180,000 ₴, or the ability to enter your project's specific budget, depending on need. Once you have completed the application form for either option you will be allocated funding and assigned your own page on the ChangeX platform, where you can complete a number of simple steps to access the allocated funding. You will be able to access the funding in 2 payments; the first payment (70% of your total funding) is unlocked upon completion of the 30 Day Challenge, and the second (30% of your total funding) once your project outcomes have been demonstrated. If you do not complete the 30 Day Challenge within the allocated time period (30 days from registration), your funding will be reallocated to another group and will not be accessible to you any longer.
In order to receive the funding, you must have a bank account. Once you’ve successfully unlocked your funding, you will see information on your project page asking you to share bank details by filling out a linked form (email, account number, BIC/Swift, and phone number). This information will be used to transfer funds for your project via bank transfer using Wise as the payment processor.
Once you have completed your Challenge and entered your bank information, ChangeX will review your application to make sure all elements of the Challenge have been completed successfully. Payment will then be made, and the transfer will take an average of 4 working days to reach the applicant’s bank account.
When the final impact survey has been completed (between three and six months after the original application was made) it will also be reviewed, to ensure the project is active and the second instalment of funding is necessary. Payment will then be made, and the transfer will take an average of 4 working days to reach the applicant’s bank account.
ChangeX, at its sole discretion, decides which applicants will be accepted, what the funds can be used for, documentation requirements, and whether the relevant criteria for payment have been met, prior to the approval of a project. ChangeX may request further information and documentation as it reasonably deems necessary, and can set further reasonable requirements or criteria during the application process or throughout the project.
Supports Available
In order to give you the best chance of success to get your new project active, ChangeX will provide you with a number of supports, resources and tools. These include a 5-Step Guide relating to the idea you are starting, a general guide to starting projects in your community, a call with a member of the ChangeX team (which is a mandatory step in completing the 30 Day Challenge), email support, a local webpage to manage your team and previous starter stories to provide information and inspiration.
Accessibility
If you require any additional support to complete the application process or access resources, please contact [email protected], and we will do everything in our power to help.
Where is this funding coming from?
This fund is supported by the LEGO Foundation. ChangeX is solely responsible for the management of the fund, including the selection of applicants, starter support, fund distribution and impact tracking.
Sharing your project with media or on social
We encourage you to share news about your community project through your local media or on social media in order to find people to join and support your project, or just to share some positive news with your wider community. When talking to media, we kindly ask you to mention the source of the funding for your project. For example, you can say: “This project has been made possible thanks to support from ChangeX and funding from the LEGO Foundation”. On social media, please use the following hashtag when announcing your project: #LearningThroughPlay
In the event that circumstances beyond the reasonable control of ChangeX effect, or could effect, the proper operation of this fund, ChangeX reserves the right to cancel or amend the fund or these terms and conditions at any time but will make every effort to avoid causing undue disappointment to applicants where such action is deemed necessary.
If you are a successful fund awardee, you agree that ChangeX, LEGO Foundation, and the social innovator behind the Idea you replicate, may use your name, image and location for any reasonable and related promotional purposes. You further agree to participate in any reasonable publicity required by ChangeX or LEGO Foundation. Any motivation statements, descriptions of your project and updates you post to your ChangeX project page can be used for reasonable and related promotional purposes by both ChangeX, LEGO Foundation, and the social innovator behind the Idea you replicate. This includes newsletters, social media, blog posts, and other promotional materials.
Your fund application and any accompanying material submitted to ChangeX (such as motivation statements, group or impact photos, action plans) will become the property of ChangeX on receipt, and may be used by for any reasonable and related promotional purposes.
Any images or videos shared on ChangeX must meet our criteria:
Parental/guardian consent must be secured for any images or videos featuring children, and any images uploaded to ChangeX will be presumed by ChangeX to have parental/guardian consent. Individual children should not be identified by name on the ChangeX site.
You have permission from all people featured in an image or video to share their image or feature them in the video.
You own the image/video OR you have secured the photographer’s permission/videographer's permission to share it with ChangeX and our partners.
You have the rights/appropriate permissions for any music used in your video.
In the event that we need to check any of the above, you will be able to provide evidence that the necessary permissions are in place.
By applying to this fund, you:
Agree that any personal information provided by you with the fund application may be held and used only by ChangeX and to administer the fund and for any other purposes to which you have expressly consented;
Understand that you may withdraw such consent at any time by contacting ChangeX at [email protected]
Are deemed to have read, understood and accepted the ChangeX privacy policy, a copy of which can be found at https://www.changex.org/ie/sites/privacy.
Insofar as is permitted by law, ChangeX will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate applicants or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking part in the fund except where it is caused by the negligence of ChangeX or its employees.
Nothing in these terms and conditions shall operate to limit or exclude its liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence or for fraud (including, but not limited to, fraudulent misrepresentation) or for that which cannot lawfully be excluded.
Nothing in these terms and conditions shall impact the awardee’s statutory rights.
If any provision of these terms and conditions is held by a competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of these terms and conditions will not be affected and will remain valid.
Nothing in these terms and conditions shall confer any rights on any third person owing to the rule of privity of contract.
These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Ireland. Any dispute arising under these terms and conditions (whether such disputes or issues are contractual or non-contractual in nature, such as claims in tort, for breach of statute or regulation or otherwise) shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of Ireland.
ChangeX Child Protection Policy
ChangeX indirectly engages with thousands of children within the context of supporting local communities to start a range of innovations on the ChangeX platform. ChangeX is committed to taking the necessary actions to support child protection. At ChangeX we care about the well-being and safety of children and recognise our fundamental duty to care for the children with whom we directly engage, and our responsibility to ensure that the social innovations we work with, and the local organisations that directly engage with children through the starting of innovations from the ChangeX platform, are also committed to this duty to care for children, and are equipped with the relevant information needed to do so.
ChangeX has a zero tolerance policy for child abuse in any form. People working for or affiliated with ChangeX must always treat children decently and respectfully.
Scope of the Child Protection Policy
In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is defined as an individual below the age of 18. This policy covers all children we engage with directly and indirectly through our strategic partners and local communities. It also includes any young people below the age of 18 who work or cooperate with ChangeX or our partners.
ChangeX operates in different geographical contexts where ideas and legislation related to children and child protection vary. ChangeX strives to provide a positive experience for all children, and they must be treated with dignity and respect, no matter where we operate.
It is mandatory that all ChangeX employees and others acting on behalf of ChangeX comply with this policy.
Child abuse is intolerable and all ChangeX employees and partners or affiliated parties are expected to comply with the law.
ChangeX Child Protection Guidelines
ChangeX staff, partners, and other individuals representing ChangeX, as well as social innovation teams, and local community organisations starting innovations from the ChangeX platform, must never:
hit, otherwise physically assault, or physically abuse children.
engage in sexual activity or have a sexual relationship with anyone under the age of 18 years or below the age of consent in the country of operation. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defense.
develop relationships with children which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive.
act in ways that may be abusive in any way or may place a child at risk of abuse.
use language, make suggestions or offer advice which is inappropriate, offensive or abusive.
behave physically in a manner which is inappropriate or sexually provocative.
have a child/children with whom they are working to stay overnight at their home unsupervised unless exceptional circumstances apply and previous permission has been obtained from the immediate manager.
sleep in the same bed as a child with whom they are working.
sleep in the same room as a child with whom they are working unless exceptional circumstances apply and previous permission has been obtained from the immediate manager.
do things for children of a personal nature that they can do themselves.
condone, or participate in, behaviour of children which is illegal, unsafe or abusive.
act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children, or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse.
discriminate against, show unfair differential treatment or favour to particular children to the exclusion of others.
spend excessive time alone with children away from others in a manner which could be interpreted as inappropriate.
expose a child to inappropriate images, films and websites including pornography and extreme violence.
place themselves in a position where they are made vulnerable to allegations of misconduct.
This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. Staff, partners and other representatives should at all times avoid actions or behaviour, which may allow behaviour to be misrepresented, constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behaviour.
ChangeX staff, partners, and other individuals representing ChangeX, as well as social innovation teams, and local community organisations starting innovations from the ChangeX platform must:
listen, value and respect all children.
know the culture in which you are working and the appropriate behaviour and language around children.
listen to children carefully if a child has a concern.
as a member of staff or a volunteer, run projects in a safe, fun and positive manner.
let children know you are there to help them.
Resources
Relevant child safeguarding training:
Save the Children make such resources available: Understanding Child Safeguarding: A facilitators guide | Save the Children’s Resource Centre
Keeping Children Safe offers resources, a self-assessment tool plus free trainings: Training Resources Archives - Keeping Children Safe
Keeping Children Safe also offer a range of Child Safeguarding resources readily available in Ukrainian
The Child Protection Area of Responsbility have summarised various child protection-related online and phone support services available for persons in Ukraine
The UK Government also offers some resources: Child abuse concerns: guide for practitioners - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) They reference the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, who also offer many resources, a self-assessment tool and trainings: NSPCC Learning homepage - safeguarding training and resources
To report any suspected child abuse, you can fill out a form through the ChangeX Reporting System and/or submit your claim via the LEGO Foundation's Whistleblower platform.
