The programme will engage with young people aged 13-19 and aims to increase the quality, quantity and diversity of opportunities for young people as leaders of change in their communities.
The Youth of Today offers a number of opportunities for young people to get involved in, a selection of which include: funding a dream project, volunteer internships, championing public services, and networking across the globe. Teachers will also be able access support through a dedicated website.
By 2010 the programme aims to have awarded £1 million of funding to organisations across England. Scaling Up and Reaching Out grant programmes aim to help organisations take their existing projects to the next level or develop new and exciting programmes.
Up to 30 grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available through Scaling Up which aims to:
• Help more young people take on leadership roles in their community
• Create more opportunities for young people to influence the decision affecting them
• Raise the quality of youth leadership opportunities
• Enable small organisations to grow
The grants can be used to develop and expand programmes including delivery costs, staff costs and small capital items. For further information about funding deadlines email fund@theyouthoftoday.org
The Reaching Out grant programme is for established organisations with a proven track record of success. Each year up to eight grants of between £75,000 and £100,000 will be awarded and should be used to develop the organisation rather than funding specific projects.
Aims of Reaching Out are to:
• Focus on social inclusion and promoting youth leadership
• Raise the quality of youth leadership opportunities
• Create more opportunities for young people to influence the decisions affecting them
• Extend the organisation’s reach to new groups in new areas
Applications for Reaching Out will not be accepted until autumn 2009 so keep checking the website for further details or email fund@youthoftoday.org if you are interested in making an application.
The Youth of Today also seeks to ensure that teachers and other education professionals fully understand the projects offer to young people.
Support for professional will be accessed through a dedicated site which will feature a search facility for relevant opportunities, and a forum for sharing experiences and case studies. Curriculum based materials for citizenship and enterprise studies will enhance and embed youth leadership within education.
The website will be live shortly, in the meantime email education@theyouthoftoday.org
For further information about The Youth of Today visit www.theyouthoftoday.org