Is your local youth service space in need of a change? Or would you like to be able to provide more for the young people you support, but need additional equipment or a vehicle? A Better Youth Spaces grant could be the answer you are looking for!
Grants of £5k-£100k for equipment, vehicles, or refurbishments can support youth organisations to provide a whole range of enrichment activities, help to expand access, create safer spaces, or make youth services more sustainable.
The new £30.5m Government fund supports not-for-profit youth organisations in 42 priority areas across England. The deadline for all applications has been extended to 21st September – don’t miss out!
Here we give 10 ideas for ways the funding could help give your youth service a glow up…
Equipment ideas
1. Get sporty with new equipment
Pool tables or ping pong tables, kayaks or canoes… or maybe gear for gymnastics or boxing kit to unbox? You can apply for a whole range of sports equipment to improve young people’s health and wellbeing.
2. Make some noise for music and media
Drumroll please… and the grant goes to… musical instruments and equipment for sound recording, music making, and film editing. Music to our ears!
3. The art of expression
Be it dance, drama, or art and craft – we know that providing young people with ways to express themselves is important. Apply for equipment to support your arts provision.
4. Going places with a ‘new to you’ vehicle
A grant could be used to buy a vehicle, like a minibus, or mobile unit to take your youth work on the road. Vehicles don’t have to be new, just new to you. Consider an electric vehicle, so your transport is more sustainable.
5. Furniture and fittings
Don’t have sofas, but need a comfy place where young people can relax and hang out? A mobile ramp to improve accessibility? Don’t miss out on funds for furniture and fittings.
6. Getting IT right with new tech
Do you want to create an IT suite? A grant could pay for IT equipment, including computers, laptops, monitors, and keyboards.
7. Safe and secure
Equipment grants can cover items that improve safeguarding and security for young people, such as CCTV installations, motion-detecting lighting, and improved building security.
Refurbishment ideas
8. Fixed and grounded
If you need gear that’s fixed to the wall (like a climbing frame, or maybe a defibrillator), then you can apply for a refurbishment grant. Or, if the equipment you need is attached to the floor (like swings or sensory garden items that are bolted to the ground), then this is also classed as a refurbishment grant.
9. Makeover magic for your rooms
Need to change the use of a room or refurbish one to reach out to more young people and improve what you can offer? A basement could become a creative studio; built-in storage could open the (cupboard) doors to a new activity for young people.
10. Gardeners’ delight
Think outside the box and make improvements to your outside spaces with grants that could cover landscaping or the installation of a sensory garden.
Equipment = Items that have no permanent connection to the structure of the building, the ground, or a vehicle and can be removed.
Refurbishment = Items that have a permanent connection to the structure of the building, the ground, or a vehicle and cannot be removed.
Full guidance on Better Youth Spaces eligible and ineligible expenditure guidance
