Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund

Pounds 4 young people

In 2005, through the Youth Matters paper, central government proposed that money should be made available for young people to control and decide how it is spent in their area to improve the things to do and places to go.

This Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) provides financial awards to young people to interesting and challenging activities to improve the things to do. It is supported by the Youth Capital Fund (YCF), which provides money to help improve the places to go, such as the local youth facilities.

In Richmond upon Thames, we’ve decided to call these funds, ‘Pounds 4 young people’.

Some of the successful bids for the YOF in 2007 included:

• The Wales trip for Whitton girls to improve their relationships with their parents.
• A sculpture trail at the Orleans House Gallery

The YCF in 2007 provided money to:

• Refurbish a space at the Aquarius unit for vulnerable young people
• Finance the Strathmore music studio.

So who can apply for money?

If you have an idea for a project or an activity that could make a positive impact on young people or your community and you:

• Are aged 13 to 19; and
• Live in or you are educated in Richmond upon Thames; and
• Have an appropriate professional (youth worker, teacher, social worker) to support your application

you can apply for money that could make your idea a reality.

What do the YOF and YCF see as funding priorities?

• Projects which aim to to bring together diverse groups of people, to build and understanding between them so they work together to achieve a common goal.
• Projects in areas where there is very little community activity, including disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• Projects that engage hard to reach groups. For example, young people at risk of social exclusion, ethnically diverse groups of young people, young people with disabilities, young carers and looked after young people.
• Groups that have not received funding before.

What can't the YOF and YCF fund?

• Projects that have been previously funded
• Projects that did not come from young people or do not show evidence of having involvement from young people

Who decides who gets the money?

A group of young people from across Richmond Borough have been selected to form a panel. The panel will decide which projects will receive funding.

Join the panel

If you would like to be on the panel, please contact Jebba Mitchell:

Email: yof@richmond.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8891 7537
Mobile: 07958 229166

When can I apply?

For 2008 to 2009 there will be three rounds of bidding. The deadlines to apply for these are:

• First round Monday 19 May 2008
• Second round Saturday 20 September 2008
• Third round Wednesday 10 December 2008

So how can I apply?

If this has got you thinking and given you an idea or maybe more than one, download the application form:

• Application form(pdf, 44KB)
• Application form (MS Word, 62KB) If you are using a PC, contextual-click ("right click") on the link, choose "Save Target As" and save to your computer. If you are using a Mac, holding down Control while clicking brings up the contextual menu.

Send it to the following address:

Youth Office
First floor Regal House
London Road
Twickenham
TW1 3QB

Email: yof@richmond.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8891 7537

If you would like to talk to us about your idea, you can contact us using any of the above.

This information can also be found in the Pounds for young people leaflet(pdf, 6577KB).

Evaluation form

For those of you that have successfully received funding, please complete the evaluation form(pdf, 55KB) and return it to the above address.

Updated guidance

Revised guidance for YOF and YCF for 2008-2011(pdf, 438KB) from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Results of bidding rounds

View the round one bidding results(pdf, 20KB).

Terms and conditions

• Proposals must meet the funding criteria
• Young people must be involved in writing the bids and be supported by an adult
• Use of the fund must be determined by young people, providing activities and facilities
• Appropriate support must be given to young people in their roles of project leaders
• Proposals must be submitted by given deadlines
• Evidence must be provided to demonstrate how young people have used the funds

For all proposals that are £5,000 and above, applicants and their supporting adult will be notified to attend the panel meeting to present their idea (For example, Microsoft Powerpoint presentation, scale model, flip charts or DVD).