The Youth Opportunity Fund
Youth Matters, the Government's plan for young people, includes providing a range of positive activities and places to go and things to do.
Young people asked for:
- a choice of safe, enjoyable places to relax and hang out
- a wide range of activities, including sport, arts and social events
- the chance to take part in interesting experiences
- opportunities for volunteering
If you are a young-person led project in Oxfordshire which can provide these, you may be able to apply for funding from the
Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital funds, which are overseen and awarded by local young people.
These funds empower young people as:
- decision makers
- grant
givers
- project leaders, and
- participants.
In this special section, you can find out more about the funds, find answers to questions about the funds, get hints and tips about making a successful bid, and download the Grant Aid application form.
NOTE: Please be aware that because of numbers of bids being received, we are not able to view presentations at meetings. Please include ALL relevant information with your application form.
Who can apply?
There are no restrictions on what activities the Youth Opportunity Fund can support as long as they support one or more of the five outcomes from Every Child Matters:
- Being healthy.
- Staying safe.
- Enjoying and achieving.
- Making a positive contribution.
- Achieving economic well being.
Applications to the Youth Opportunity Fund should be made by young people. At least two young people must be involved. Adult workers should support their role as decision makers and project leaders.
Applications must show that young people are fully involved. If you're applying to the Youth Opportunity Fund, you should show young people deciding on activities and coming up with things to do, if applying to the Youth Capital Fund, you need evidence that the young people want the facilities.
The Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund can be used together for projects and initiatives which need funding for facilities and activities.
Download the Grant Aid Application Form
Who decides what wins?
Oxfordshire's Divisional Young People's Forums (groups of trained, local young people) decide how the money is spent and whose applications are successful.
There are four Divisional Young Peoples Forums, which meet four times a year.
- North Oxfordshire
- Oxford
- South Oxfordshire
- Countywide
Adult workers also attend the meetings to support the young people and help develop their role as young decision makers.
Find out more
