UK Youth Fund - Cost of Living Fund

The cost-of-living crisis is having a profound and devastating effect on young people and the youth organisations they depend on as they struggle to keep up with the rising cost of inflation. Already youth organisations are having to cut back on delivery or staff costs and in some cases, are closing their doors. This will result in a vital part of the youth ecosystem falling apart, unable to provide critical support to young people and impacting the key stages of young people’s lives. 
 

This new fund, the Cost of Living grant programme, is a three-year unrestricted grant programme aimed at mitigating the devastating impact the cost of living crisis is having on the youth sector. The UK Youth Fund in partnership with Pears Foundation will provide targeted funding to youth organisations delivering high quality youthwork to ensure doors stay open, bills get paid and youth workers receive the salaries they deserve, so as to ensure young people continue to be supported at this most difficult of times by the youth organisations and youth workers on whom they’ve come to depend. 

The Cost of Living grant programme is open to youth organisations based and delivering high quality youth work in the UK, with an annual turnover of £500,000 or less. The grant programme will offer 3-year unrestricted grants, of approximately 10% of current turnover of applicant organisations to reflect the current rate of inflation. However, applicants will have an opportunity to explain why they might need funding above and beyond this. They are looking to identify and support youth organisations delivering high quality youth provision whose work is being hindered, curtailed or cut back due to rising core costs or a need to address unprecedented demand.  

The application website will remain open whilst funds remain to be distributed. On the application website you will be able to download and read Application Questions & Guidelines pdf and a FAQ pdf for full details on eligibility, criteria, funding preferences, application questions and how applications will be assessed.  

Throughout the application window, they will be hosting weekly open webinars over zoom, where the grants team will talk through the application form, provide guidance on how to make a strong application and host a Q&A.