Youth Opportunity Funding

Are you aged 13+ living or attending school/college in Slough?

Do you have a great idea for a new activity or a way to improve young people's facilities in your area?

Would you like to turn your idea into a reality?

If the answer is yes but you need MONEY to do it…then you may be able to receive funding from the Youth Opportunity and/or Youth Capital Funds.

What is the Youth Opportunity and Capital Fund?

The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and Youth Capital Funding (YCF) is money given by the Government (Department for Children, Schools and Families) to help young people improve local activities and facilities.
 

The aim of the funding is to:

• Increase positive activities and youth facilities in line with what young people want in Slough and therebyincrease young people's participation in these activities and facilities
• Provide opportunities for young people to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities and gain recognition and/or accreditation for them.
• Increase the well being of young people by contributing to the five Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes: Being Healthy; Staying Safe; Enjoying and Achieving; Economic Well Being; Making A Positive Contribution
• Let young people, particularly those who are disadvantaged have a voice and influence things to do and places to go and put across a powerful message to young people that their needs and aspirations are important.
  
  
  

How can you get involved?

• Apply for grant funding and run your own project. (with the support of an adult)
• Become a member of SYOF, Slough’s Youth Opportunity Fund Young People's Panel. SYOF are a group of young people from across Slough who have come together to form this panel. SYOF have put together an application process for projects and will be choosing which projects deserve to be funded.
• Join in with the activities and projects that are funded by the YOF and YCF.
  
  
  

Who can apply for the funding?

All of Slough's young people aged 13-19 years and those aged 20-24 with learning difficulties or learning disabilities.   You will need an adult to support you e.g. youth worker, connexions advisor or teacher.  If you do not have someone who can support you please contact us and we will try and help.  Our contact details are below.

What can young people apply for?

The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) can be used to support projects and activities such as street dancing, arts and media workshops and sports programmes.  The Youth Capital Fund (YCF) can be used to renovate your youth space or purchase large pieces of equipment or provide new facilities. 

Both funds are for projects that:

• are organised and run by young people, for young people
• improve and increase things to do and places to go, for young people in Slough
• help improve the way different groups of young people integrate with each other and the community
• offer the opportunity for all young people to take part in
  

What can't the money fund?

• Idea's and applications for projects that do not come from young people.
• Projects that do not meet any of the Every Child Matters 5 Outcomes.
• Projects that have already taken place or have started.
• Applications only for a "one off" day out.
• Applications that only involve travel costs.
• Projects that are specifically for promoting and/or marketing a business or organisation.
• Individuals, for their own private use / or personal gain.
  
  

Making an Application

To request an application form you should either:

• Complete the on-line "Contact Us" form at the top right of the page 
• Call 01753 477333
• Text 07776461845
• Email youthopportuntityfund@slough.gov.uk

When requesting an application you need to provide a brief summary about your idea so that we can check to see if a similar idea has been funded previously or if there is a similar activity or equipment that is already available in your area that you could access. When using the "Contact Us" form please remember to put YOUTH OPPORTUNITY FUND in the SUBJECT BOX and details of your IDEA in the MESSAGE BOX.

Submission dates for applications:

SYOF, Slough's Youth Opportunity Fund young people’s panel meet every second Wednesday of each month.  When you are sent an application form SYOF will give you a submission date detailing when you need to complete and return your form by.

If SYOF receive your application after the specified submission date your form will be assessed at the panel's next scheduled meeting following the date of when your application is received.