Grants of £500,000 to £1million for projects in England that support vulnerable young people through difficult changes in their lives.

There are certain groups of young people who need more support at important stages in their lives. Youth in Focus will help some of these young people.  Application forms for Youth in Focus will be available at the briefing events and on their website from early September 2010.

The funding targets specific groups

• Young carers: helping young people between the ages of 15 and 25 to be heard and get better access to practical advice and services, which can support their day to day lives. 
• Young people leaving care: supporting young people between the ages of 15 and 25, so they get better access to education, housing, healthcare and employment advice and services.
• Young people leaving youth offenders institutions: helping young people between the ages of 15 and 25 to develop their life skills and get better access to services, particularly young men with learning difficulties and young women.

Applicants are expected to:

• target one or more of the groups that the Youth in Focus programme aims to support
• involve the young people who will benefit throughout, from the earliest stages
• form a partnership of voluntary, public or private sector organisations with relevant expertise, led by a voluntary sector organisation
• make sure that the benefits of the project carry on after the funding ends
• share what they have learnt.

If your project meets the programme outcomes listed above then you may be eligible to apply for a grant of between £500,000 and £1,000,000 (£1,500,000 for England-wide projects that raise national awareness).

The Big Lottery expects Youth in Focus to be a competitive programme and they may receive more applications than they are able to fund.

Are you eligible to apply?

You can apply to Youth in Focus if you are a partnership led by a voluntary and community sector organisation.

More information

More details at http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_youth_focus?regioncode=-uk