Government Launches Children and Young People’s Resettlement Fund for England

Funding for councils and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations to help vulnerable children and young people from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong access mental health support, counselling and therapy.

The new £2.5 million Children and Young People’s Resettlement Fund is provided and administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The Fund aims to support the estimated 100,000 young people from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong who are on the established visa routes and pathways to the UK.

Local authorities and VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) organisations based in England can apply for grants of between £100,000 to £300,000.

A total of up to £2.5 million is being made available across 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. It is anticipated that 10 to 20 multi-year projects will be funded. A minimum of £1.5 million will be awarded to regional and national projects though smaller local projects are also welcome to bid.

The funding is for organisations to help run local, regional or national projects that can be up and running as soon as possible once the funding has been awarded (from autumn/winter 2023). Projects are expected to have 16 months of delivery time and must be completed by 31 March 2025.

The grants will support children and young people aged 21 years and younger who are on:

  • The Homes for Ukraine scheme
  • Ukraine Family scheme
  • Ukraine Extension Scheme
  • Afghan Resettlement scheme (pathways 1, 2 and 3)
  • Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme

The funding will support projects that:

  • Address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and young people aged 21 and under who have arrived by one or more of the pathways. This includes mental health and trauma.
  • Provide support to enable children and young people to recover from traumatic experiences, displacement and/or resettlement into a new country.
  • Support children and young people to transition into England and their community, while retaining a connection to their culture.
  • Deliver projects across local authority areas to maximise impact.
  • Develop an evidence base on what works in supporting vulnerable young migrants and displaced people.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is holding an online event on 6 October (13:30) to explain the competition and process for applying. Registration is required and should be done by sending an email to CYPRFund@levellingup.gov.uk by 5 October (13:30).

The deadline for applications to the Fund is 1 November 2023 (23:59).

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)