The new £500,000 fund will provide grants of between £500 and £1,000 to grassroots community groups across the UK to help them deliver activities that improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 13 years to 21 years.
Not-for-profit groups and organisations with an income of less then £250,000 and who already have an existing service for young people within the 13-21 age group can apply.
Applicants need to meet at least one of the following objectives:
- Provide services that support, educate and empower.
- Connect young people to their peers.
- Support rehabilitation and recovery and provide shelter.
- Deliver activities / programmes that improve physical health and wellbeing.
The funding can be used for a number of different things. Example of the kinds of items and services that could be funded include, but are not limited to:
- Intervention and prevention programmes to address social issues.
- Essential items for crisis support, such as clothes, food and hygiene items for a homeless shelter focusing on young people.
- Delivery of specialist support or services or speakers.
- Group drop-in and talking sessions.
- Workshops to upskill and deliver life skills (cooking, finance, employment, CV writing).
- Resources for recreational activities, e.g., craft materials, board games, sports kits and/or equipment (cap £500).
- Volunteering costs (cap £100 per person).
- Peer support events, and activities that bring people together.
The grant must be used and projects completed by September 2025.
Groups can check their eligible before the fund opens.
The applications window will be open for two weeks; however, it may close early if there is a high level of applications. In addition, if a geographic region is oversubscribed, individual areas may close before the deadline for the total grant programme.
