Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Fund
The Youth Opportunity & Youth Capital Funds are government funding open to young people aged 13-19 to apply for, for things to do and places to go in Croydon; projects are meant to benefit the most disadvantaged young people. The main priorities for funding are youth-led projects that support the Every Child Matters 5 outcomes and benefit those who often miss out on youth activities/opportunities.
The idea is that supporting adults help young people to put their application together. A team of young people will be looking at all the applications and deciding on the best way of spending the money.
Some of the kinds of projects that have been funded so far are: film-making projects, youth talent showcases, cooking courses, motorbike projects, sports activities, facilities & equipment, residentials/trips, creative arts workshops, entrepreneur courses, benefits advice, music projects & equipment, after-school clubs etc.
The FINAL YOF/YCF deadline of 2009-10 is approaching! Don’t miss out…..
The first stage of application is completing the declaration of interest postcard. This needs to reach us two weeks before the application form deadline. Once this is returned to us we will talk to you about the idea and then send you out the forms.
The YOF team bid marking meeting is now a rolling process. The YOF Team meets on the second (2nd) Wednesday of each month and deadlines for application forms to reach the Youth Office is midday on first Friday of each month i.e. the Friday prior to YOF Team meetings.
Application Postcard Front Page Download Front of Postcard HERE
Application Postcard Back Page Download Back of Postcard HERE
YOF / YCF Application Pack 2009-10Download YOF/YCF Application Pack HERE
Contact Ann Babington if you want a hard copy of the postcards sent to you, or if you have any further questions!
ann.babington@croydon.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8760 5583
Archive Material
The YOF / YCF Annual Report 2006 - 07 Download Report in PDF format HERE File size 7Mb
The DfES in its paper 'Youth Matters - Next Steps
The recent DfES ‘Youth Matters – Next Steps’ paper gave details of the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds which had been flagged up in September 05’s ‘Youth Matters’ Green Paper.
The funds allocated to Croydon are:
| Year | YOF | YCF | 5% support | Total |
|---|
| 2006/7 | £207,844 | £179,768 | £16,115 | £387,612 | | 2007/8 | £207,844 | £179,768 | £16,115 | £387,612 | | 2008/9 | £207,844 | £179,768 | £16,115 | £387,612 | | 2009/10 | £207,844 | £179,768 | £16,115 | £387,612 | | | | | | £1,550,448 |
Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund guidance
The funds are accessible to young people aged 13-19.
The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) provides resources which young people will control to improve ‘things to do and places to go’ in their area, while the Youth Capital Fund (YCF) will enable local authorities to develop new approaches to strategic investment in youth facilities in partnership with young people.
Local authorities have been asked to work through Children’s Trust arrangements to plan use of the funds, and ensure that young people in the most disadvantaged areas participate in and benefit from the funds. GOL has established banking arrangements with the Youth Service which is the designated lead service.
The purpose of the funds
The main purpose of the funds is to:
* give a voice to young people, especially disadvantaged young people, in relation to ‘things to do and places to go’ in order to underline the message that their needs and aspirations are important;
* change the way local authorities and their partners provide activities and facilities for young people, especially in deprived areas, and to increase their responsiveness;
* improve things to do and places to go in line with what young people want;
* provide opportunities for young people to develop their confidence, skills and abilities and to gain recognition/accreditation for them;
* contribute to the achievement of the Every Chid Matters (ECM) outcomes;
* increase young people’s engagement with services and in local democratic processes.
Conditions for spending the funds
The conditions of payment of the funds are that:
* their use is determined by young people to provide activities and facilities;
* appropriate support is given to young people involved, including setting up and running panels, training, completing paperwork and leading projects;
* evidence is collected in relation to the use of the funds and their impact in providing facilities and activities for young people;
* information on expenditure, activities and capital projects financed by the funds and the impact on provision is provided to Government Office.
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