UK Youth

UK Youth funds direct youth work and mental health provision for young people across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its grants support activities that improve mental health support for both young people and youth workers, as well as efforts to strengthen the financial resilience and capacity of small youth organisations. One programme is specifically dedicated to mental health, supporting work with vulnerable communities such as those affected by racialised inequality, poverty, trauma, gender and sexuality issues, and rural isolation. The other programme focuses on youth organisations in the most deprived areas, helping them build long-term sustainability. Both programmes fund ongoing core costs and project activities, giving organisations flexibility to address their most pressing needs.

Registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), community interest companies (CICs) and community-led groups (CLGs) can apply for funding. The funder prioritises small youth organisations working directly with young people, particularly those serving vulnerable communities. There is no faith restriction. Organisations must be based in and delivering work across England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The programmes are designed to support grassroots and smaller organisations that may struggle to access other funding, with a focus on those in the top 30% of Index of Multiple Deprivation areas for one programme, and those working with specific vulnerable groups for the other.

UK Youth does not fund a range of costs that are not directly related to its charitable aims. These include retrospective costs, meaning any expenditure incurred before the grant start date. Redundancy costs are also excluded, as are onward grantmaking activities where the funded organisation would pass the money to another entity. Additionally, the funder will not support costs related to campaigning or the promotion of political or faith beliefs, ensuring that its grants are used solely for youth work and mental health provision.

UK Youth provides multi-year unrestricted grants, typically over three years, giving organisations the flexibility to allocate funds where they are most needed. The funder welcomes unsolicited applications through its thematic programmes, which are publicised on its website. Grants are designed to support the core costs and capacity building of small youth organisations, helping them to become more financially resilient. The two programmes differ in theme: one focuses on mental health support, the other on strengthening organisations in deprived areas, but both share a commitment to long-term, flexible funding.