Creating better futures: what we’re looking for in our Youth Fund

As funders, we provide grants to enable great work – but with an open funding programme and a limited budget, unfortunately we spend more time than we’d like to saying ​‘no’. Last year over 50% of unsuccessful applications for the Youth Fund were declined because they did not meet our essential criteria for focusing on work to change the context for young people.

We hear the feedback and frustration from applicants when they are not successful. This blog therefore focuses on what we are looking for to support applicants in deciding whether they should apply to the Youth Fund.

When we talk about focusing on the context for young people, we mean work that goes beyond direct delivery to change the attitudes, practices, structures, systems and power dynamics that cause young people to experience disadvantage and inequity. This is important to us because of our focus on asset-based working and our ambition to deliver long-term change with and for young people.

We do not believe young people are a ​‘problem’ that needs ​‘fixing’ or that the disadvantage and inequity they experience is their fault. The problems we are trying to tackle are a result of the systems and structures‡ we all exist within – education, health, housing, the way the economy and society operate.

‡FSG the Water of Systems Change framework has informed our approach to wider impact.

We want to tackle the root causes of why these systems and structures don’t work for some young people, and why they lead to disadvantage, inequity and injustice, especially for young people facing challenging transitions. 

We fund work that asks: ​‘why is this happening to these young people?’ and ​‘how or what can we change about the system to make things better for future generations’?

To bring this to life, here are some examples of work we currently fund focused on creating a better future for young people.

We fund work that addresses the way the law, rules or guidelines affect young people. Work that seeks to influence or change policy so that young people’s rights and entitlements are upheld and so laws and rules do not discriminate or create obstacles or barriers for young people.

We fund work that improves the practice of professionals who interact with young people – so that young people’s experiences of service and support are positive, their voices are listened to and opinions valued and they are not harmed when they should be being helped.

We support work that addresses how money, people, knowledge, information and other assets are allocated or distributed (e.g. research) to and for young people. In relation to power, we want to fund work that looks to redistribute or share decision-making power and authority towards young people – especially those experiencing disadvantage or inequity and those advocating for their interests.

We focus on work that builds relationships, connections and communication flows so that collective action by different actors or stakeholders can drive change across systems to improve young people’s lives.

And finally, we fund activity that changes deeply held attitudes, patterns of thought and assumptions that influence what people feel, say and do about or to young people.

As a result of your work, the system will better serve young people, policy will have changed, societies attitudes will have improved, structures or processes will work better for young people. Your work will fundamentally shift power and create safety and belonging for young people so they can thrive.

This type of change is incredibly difficult and we don’t expect every organisation working with and for young people to be doing it. We know that this type of work takes a long time, and often happens as a result of lots of people working in different ways. 

It’s also often challenging to see a direct line between your work and the outcome of systems change. What’s important is a clear plan and contribution to systems change through a focus beyond direct delivery and on the context for young people.

We want to fund organisations where this approach is a core part of your work, where you are focused on positive change for future generations of young people.

More details of our full criteria can be found on our website.