Community organisations working with young people in Brighton & Hove can now apply for additional funding to support their work.
The city’s youth-led grants programme has £88,000 available this year to fund projects for young people aged 11-19 (or up to 25 with special educational needs). Further funding will also be available next year.
Young people were asked what they thought the main areas for improvement were and they said:
- additional youth support to improve mental health and reduce alcohol and substance misuse
- additional activities for young people
- volunteering and work experience opportunities.
Young people are also leading on deciding how the funding is allocated.
Josh Cliff from the Youth Council and one of the young people leading on the programme said “this presents a genuine opportunity to improve youth services in the city.”
The deadline for applications is 12 September and projects can start from 1 October. Applications need to include a clear plan for how the money will be used and who it will benefit.
Successful projects will work in partnership with one of the lead youth providers in the city.
Councillor Daniel Chapman, Chair of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee said: “The really great thing about this funding is that its allocation is being led by young people.
“They know the type of projects and activities that young people will respond best to, so it’s right that they are included in the decision process.
“They make all the recommendations, and our job as councillors is to make sure the distribution of funding considers all areas of the city and all groups of young people facing challenges in their lives.”
If you’d like to find out more, or apply for some of the funding, please go to www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/youth-led-grants.