Details of New £10m Government Fund for Youth Facilities Released

Funding for small-scale capital projects which create or expand youth provision services in left-behind areas across England.

BBC Children in Need has been selected to administer phase 1 of the Youth Investment Fund on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), with further phases expected in due course.

Not-profit organisations, schools and Local Authorities which provide youth services can apply for grants of £5,000 to £50,000 for building improvements, purchasing equipment and furnishings.

Applicants must be based in a left-behind area of England as defined by youth need and low provision, with the full list of eligible areas available here.

Groups should be undertaking work with children and young people, where the majority are aged 11 to 19 years. Where young people have a special educational need, are leaving care, or are considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable, funding may be granted up to the age of 25 years.

Grants could cover:

  • Installation of Green Energy, such as solar panels, heat pumps.
  • Equipment to improve health and wellbeing, eg outdoor gym equipment.
  • IT improvements including software, websites, portals, platforms and new IT equipment.
  • Improvements allowing greater access to service-users with disabilities.
  • Equipment that will expand and enrich youth activities offered by existing providers, eg outdoor sports and activities, kitchen equipment, landscaping.
  • Minor facility improvements to improve safeguarding and security for young people, eg CCTV installations, improved building security.
  • Purchase of vehicles or mobile units, which could be used for detached youth work or as mobile youth centres.
  • Changes to existing spaces, eg provision of music rooms, arts and crafts, IT rooms.
  • Conversions of underused space into youth facilities.

All items must be purchased and paid for 31 March 2022.

The administrators can help with accessibility requirements for applying, such as arranging a translator or requesting guidance in other formats.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis as they are received.

Phase 1 will be open from 31 January 2022 until 25 February 2022, or when all funds are allocated.

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