Cash creates opportunity for youth
The Youth Funding Council with help from Herefordshire Council has been helping young people in the county make a difference to their own lives by offering £167,000 worth of grants.
The aim of the two schemes – Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund – is to help young people improve what’s on offer for them in Herefordshire and the cash handed out so far has benefited 47 schemes.
Projects to have benefited include providing sports equipment and training, improvements to and activities for youth clubs, training courses, overseas expeditions, IT equipment, minibuses, summer schools and workshops, youth cafes, community garden projects, concerts and fundraising activities.
More than £300,000 is available until March 2008 under the DfES initiative and the closing date for the next round of applications is January 26, 2007.
The Youth Opportunities Fund offers grants of up to £4,500 and these can be used to help young people take part in any activities or events they are interested in and could include climbing, canoeing or photography. These grants can be applied for twice in a year.
The Youth Capital Fund can be used for equipment and buildings and the maximum grant available under this scheme is £10,000 in any one year.
The Youth Funding Panel, made up of representatives from the Youth Council and other voluntary groups in the county, makes the decisions on how the scheme operates and how the money is spent with support from Herefordshire Council.
Applicants must come from either a group or individuals who are resident in the county and are between 13 and 19 years old. If the applicant or any one person in the group has disabilities, then the upper age limit can be extended to 25 years old.
Clare Evans, chair of the Youth Council, said: “This has been a fantastic way for young people to do something for themselves and their friends. We hope the funding will have a lasting benefit for the county’s youth.
”A second round of applications will be decided on in January and I am urging all young people interested to make sure they don’t miss out,” she added.
Application forms can be downloaded from the website www.herefordshireyouthcouncil.co.uk
For further details on how to apply for grants contact the Delegated Grants & Programmes team on 01432 260753.
