We are proud to be a Partner of the Youth Investment Fund (YIF). YIF is a commitment to young people to transform and level up the out-of-school youth sector. It will provide truly innovative youth facilities in levelling up priority areas, and early-stage/seed resource funding to underpin them, enabling more positive activities that deliver improved outcomes for young people.

Alongside our Partners – Social Investment Business, National Youth Agency and Key Fund, YIF will deliver over £300m of capital and revenue grants, funded by the UK Government.

This investment will support the out of school youth sector, providing up to 300 youth facilities – which could include small community youth spaces, youth centres of different sizes, and activity centres – in some of the less advantaged areas of England. 

The fund aims to work with youth sector organisations who are aiming to:

• Improve the health and wellbeing of young people
• Equip young people with skills for work and life
• Empower young people to be active members of their community and society 
• Level up provision in selected eligible areas of England

Phase 1 was launched in January by Children in Need on behalf of the UK Government delivering £12 million of funding for small-scale projects and we’re now inviting expressions of interest for Phase 2.

Our aim is to deliver grants for up to 300 facilities that:

• represent positive value for money,
• are environmentally sustainable,
• and enable positive activities for young people aged 11 to 18 (up to 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in eligible places across England, by 2024/25.

Applications to the main Youth Investment Fund programme

The Youth Investment Fund has been very popular and heavily oversubscribed to date, and we have funded some fantastic projects which will support thousands of young people to have improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work. One such project is KBSK, which is based in a deprived area of Cornwall, that offers inclusive dance opportunities to local youth people, including those from deprived and isolated areas of the county, and young people with complex and additional needs, or those who struggle with their mental health. 

KBSK was set up by Abie Dove, who grew up on a deprived council estate in Cornwall and had a dream of becoming a dancer. It was an impossible dream, but her mum sacrificed everything to make it happen. Abie wanted to give other young people the same opportunities as her and was inspired to set up KBSK in 2012, so local young people could have same the opportunity to access the arts, the space to express themselves and to flourish. KBSK uses dance as a means to engage young people and develop them into community leaders. 

KBSK now has an amazing opportunity to transform and extend its services for young people in Bodmin. A Youth Investment Fund grant means KBSK can build and extend its youth service offer to young people, and once complete it will be able to support hundreds more young people. It’s a ground-breaking opportunity to prioritise the needs of young people and deliver the life-changing services they need, creating a more equal society for future generations.

The KBSK project will provide a new social indoor space for young people. The centre will offer multiple services under one roof to support children, young people, and families in times of need, as well as a varied timetable of activity to interact and engage with including dance, education, youth nights and workshops throughout the week. The Youth Investment Fund grant will transform KBSK services for young people and enhance the local area with the aims to combat the rise in anti-social behaviour and to provide more opportunities for young people to achieve and reach their full potential.

Young people have been at the heart of developing the new KBSK space. From youth led committee meetings over pizza, to being creative in designing the new centre’s mural during graffiti projects supported by Safer Bodmin and Bodmin Town Council.

Welcoming the Youth Investment Fund grant, KBSK CIC Managing Director Adie Dove said: “I want every young person to have access to a safe and nurturing space that provides life changing opportunities. because every young person deserves that right. I truly believe that this new centre is going to be a beacon of light for so many and the Youth Investment Fund has made this vision a reality”
 

Given the remaining life of the grant programme and the deadline for spending the funds and completing projects, the Youth Investment Fund will soon only accept bids that are seeking to deliver less complex, smaller projects that can be fully completed by 31 March 2025.

We will therefore be closing to applications for the main Youth Investment Fund programme from midnight on Thursday 1st June.

In addition, there is also a small Refurbishment Grant Programme for applications under £150,000 which do not require planning permission. There are two grant windows to make an application to the Refurbishment Grant Programme. The application form will only be available to view and complete during these dates.

• 24 April to 12 May 2023
• 29 May to 09 June 2023

You can still read about the criteria and process for making a Refurbishment Grant, including viewing the application questions so you can prepare in advance.

To find out more information about the Youth Investment Fund, and to apply, please visit https://youthinvestmentfund.org.uk