Young people are to benefit for another year from a £100,000 fund through Dorset Council Youth organisations.
The fund supports a range of activities for young people with grants being offered from £500 to £5,000. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday 14 June to be considered.
Organisations working with young people can apply for grants from £500 to £5000 to deliver youth projects and activities within the Dorset Council area. Projects must provide access to positive activities or promote the wellbeing of young people. The money can be used for equipment and staffing costs, and fund projects that provide young people with opportunities to experience new activities they may not otherwise have access to.
Last year 24 projects received funding to enable young people to access positive activities and a total of 68 grants have been made over the last 3 years. The Youth Fund continued to support youth clubs and centres as a safe place for young people to meet with friends. Furthermore, the Youth Fund was able to help a wide range of young people who might need some extra support. This included helping young carers to take a break from caring and groups supporting young people with learning disabilities.
This year young people will be more involved than before. The Dorset Youth Council has been campaigning to ensure young people are prepared for adult life and bids to support this are especially encouraged.
The panel making decisions about grants will be made up of three young people and three councillors, and a young person will co-chair with the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, Councillor Byron Quayle.
Councillor Byron Quayle said: “We are delighted to be continuing the support provided for our children and young people via the Youth Fund grants, working with voluntary sector partners, in delivering a wide range of activities across Dorset”
“The fund’s successful track record in supporting youth clubs and other groups, is well recognised. We want to encourage applications from across the council area, ensuring as many children and young people as possible, benefit from it.
“I am also looking forward to seeing our young people directly involved in assessing the bids for grants and discussing how the money we award will make a difference.”
The Fund is open to youth centres and clubs operating in the council area for the benefit of young people who live there. Organisations can only apply for this once a year and must have an annual income lower than £500,000. You can find out more eligibility and how to apply here.
The Youth Fund is one of the ways the Dorset Council delivers its priorities as set out in the Children and Young People’s Plan.
