Whether your idea involves small changes within your organisation or has the potential to lead system change on a wider scale, the programme will give you the tools you need to put into practice.
Apply to the Innovation programme
Are you interested in creating a new project or service for children and families?
The Innovation programme is a six-month fully funded programme designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and resources to turn your idea into a reality.
Why join the Innovation programme?
The Innovation programme is fully funded and free to participants. Over the course of six-months, participants can benefit from:
- Expert-led workshops: Gain critical entrepreneurial knowledge and skills from expert facilitators
- Peer learning opportunities: Share ideas, skills and build connections with like-minded innovators
- One-to-one coaching: Receive personalised support from experienced coaches
- Residential learning experience: Benefit from in-person training days away from work and home, with opportunities to connect with fellow innovators
- Funding opportunity: At the end of the programme, Frontline grants seed funding to the ideas with the greatest potential for impact
Who are we looking for?
The Innovation programme is designed for professionals who work closely with children and young people at risk of harm, including those in children’s social care and other related support services. We welcome applications from:
- Frontline fellows: individuals who have completed one of Frontline’s qualifying programmes
- Youth workers
- Care-experienced young professionals (aged 21 – 25)
We recognise care-experienced as individuals who have been formally looked after by a local authority, in kinship care, foster care, residential care or legally adopted.
We welcome a range of ideas, including those focused on:
- Creating tools to better support professionals
- Improving support for looked after children
- Reducing bureaucracy and improving systems
Programme structure
The programme is designed to fit around your work and personal commitments, with a total of 10 days of contact time across a six-month period. This is split into two phases:
Phase one: Define and explore
Duration: June-September 2026
Time commitment: four days of contact time.
You will have the opportunity to pitch your idea to a panel to secure your place in the next phase.
| Session | Date | Time |
| Programme launch residential* | Monday 1 June – Tuesday 2 June 2026 | Overnight stay In-person, Warwick University |
| Workshop one: exploring the market | Thursday 18 June 2026 | 5.30pm – 7.30pm Online |
| Workshop two: evaluation and its role in your innovation | Thursday 2 July 2026 | 5.30pm – 7.30pm Online |
| Workshop three: funding and financing your innovation | Thursday 16 July 2026 | 5.30pm – 7.30pm Online |
| Innovation development session | Week commencing 3 August 2026 | To be determined with your group and facilitator |
| Workshop four: pitching | Thursday 3 September 2026 | 5.30pm – 7.30pm Online |
| Mini pitch: put your learning into practice | Tuesday 15 September – Friday 18 September 2026 | By appointment Online |
Phase two: Design and build
Duration: October – November 2026
Time commitment: six days of contact time.
Participants who progress to this phase will deepen their learning and design a plan to implement a pilot innovation project.
| Session | Date | Time |
| Five-day residential bootcamp* | Monday 19 October – Friday 23 October 2026 | 10.00am – 4.30pm In person, London |
| Final pitch | Tuesday 17 November – Thursday 19 November | By appointment Online |
Applications closing soon!
Applications close 9 March. Don’t miss out on the chance to turn your idea into action for children at risk of harm.