Charities supporting children’s services invited to apply for grant funding under new youth investment scheme

Not-for-profit organisations that support children’s services have been invited to apply for grant funding under a new youth investment initiative.

The Government said the ‘National Youth Guarantee’ will be backed by some £560 million in funding to deliver new and refurbished youth facilities across the UK.

The plan forms part of the Levelling Up White Paper, which aims to ensure that young people in England have access to activities, trips away from home, and volunteering opportunities.

According to the report, charities, not-for-profits, and community groups can now apply for Phase 1 of the Youth Investment Fund (YIF).

The £10 million grant funding scheme – launched through BBC Children in Need – can be used to create, expand, or improve local youth facilities and their services to drive positive outcomes for young people in every area of their life, such as health, wellbeing, and employment.

The competitive bidding process opened on 31 January 2022 and any funding awarded needs to be spent by 31 March 2022.

Commenting on the fund, Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “We want every young person, no matter where they’re from, to get the best start in life. That is why we are supporting young people with a National Youth Guarantee to access regular club activities, adventures away from home and volunteering opportunities.”

Simon Antrobus, CEO of BBC Children in Need, added: “We’re delighted to have been selected to deliver the Youth Investment Fund Phase 1 and encourage organisations across England to apply.

“The funding can be used for small-scale capital projects so this could be anything from providing new laptops to a youth group for young people living in an area of disadvantage, or providing a new minibus for a youth club so they can keep children and young people safe and extend activities beyond their local area.”

Click here to find out more about the YIF.

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Posted in Blog, Charities, Charities.