Better Youth Spaces

The application deadline for BYS Round 2 equipment/vehicle grants is 12 (noon) on Thursday 6th November 2025. 

All evidence of eligible expenditure for BYS round 2 to make equipment/vehicle grant claims must be submitted to SIB by the following deadline:  

• Equipment & vehicle grants: final submission of evidence of spend is 28th February 2026. 

What is Better Youth Spaces? 

Better Youth Spaces is a capital grant programme funded by the UK Government and administered by Social Investment Business. This funding round can be used for capital equipment (including the purchase of vehicles), to help youth organisations to better support the young people they work with. The project must meet at least one of the fund objectives:   

• Improving the reach of activities provided.   
• Improving the safety of existing youth facilities.   
• Improve the youth sector’s capacity and quality to deliver a range of enrichment activities.   
• Improving the financial sustainability of youth facilities.  

Who is it for?

Youth organisations in 42 priority areas of England that are not-for-profit, with at least 50% of their provision for children/ young people aged up to 18, and a significant proportion of that provision must be open access youth provision for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years (or up to 25 years if they have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable).    

The 42 priority areas have been selected by the government based on the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) at upper tier local authority level. You can read the full DCMS methodology here. A list of these areas is available in the FAQs, but the easiest and most reliable way to check and ensure eligibility is to use our eligible postcode checker:

Please note: it is the building/land where the equipment / vehicle being purchased will primarily be stored that must be located in an eligible postcode.  

Due to the very tight timelines to deliver this fund, this is a single stage grant application, and we need to ask for all information upfront with the application form – therefore the application form will take some time to complete.   

Before you start the form, we strongly recommend you:  

• Carefully read the detailed Application Form Guidance and list of Eligible & Ineligible Expenditure (see below),   
• Collect together all the required documents (listed below), and   
• Then start the online application form.  

This will make completing the form a lot quicker and easier. If you have done this and have all required information to hand and ready to upload, the form will take at least one hour to complete.   

If you don’t include all of the requested information with your application, you include ineligible items of spend or what you are applying for doesn’t appear feasible within the fund timelines, your application (or part of it) might be rejected.   

Am I eligible? 

In addition to the geographic eligibility above we will only consider applications from organisations that:   

Are set up as:   

• Charities registered with the Charity Commission;   
• Not-for-profit companies (including Community Interest Companies (CICs) and Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLGs) with dividend, asset and mission lock) registered with Companies House;   
• Local Authorities (where they provide youth services);  
• Uniformed organisations; or  
• Community Benefit Societies and Cooperative societies  
• Are working with children and young people, with at least 50% of their provision  being for children/ young people aged up to 18; and a significant proportion of the offering being open access youth provision for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years (or up to 25 years if they have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable);   
• Are applying for a project/s that meets at least one of the fund objectives;  
• Have been actively operating for at least two years and have at least one set of annual financial accounts;   
• Have a bank account in the name of the applicant organisation;    
• Have at least two unrelated governing body directors/ trustees/ committee members;   
• Comply with SIB’s Safeguarding Policy;  
• Can cash flow the project from their own resources (grants are paid in arrears);  
• Can, spend the grant and provide eligible evidence of spend within a 1-4 month timeframe (to be agreed during the grant set up).   

The following sectors, organisations and activities are not eligible:  

• Schools and Parent Teacher Associations, Colleges, Multi-Academy Trusts, Universities and Student Unions or any organisations focused on the enhancement of service provision by schools, colleges, multi-academy trusts or universities.  
• Hospitals  
• Companies Limited by Shares   
• The grant cannot be used to promote/ further religion.  

What grant sizes are available and what are the payment terms?

Grant sizes:

• Minimum of £5,000 and a maximum of £100,000 per site (not per organisation).  
• Can include both equipment and the purchase of vehicles.  
• Individual items of equipment must be £2,000 or greater in value. Multiples of identical (i.e. the exact same) items with a cumulative value of £2,000 or greater purchased in a single transaction are also eligible.  
• Different items can be grouped together to meet the £2,000 threshold if they are interdependent (needed together for a single purpose/function please see application guidance for more information) The £2,000 value can include delivery, installation, and related professional fees. 

Payment terms: 

• All grants will be paid in arrears on receipt and approval of a payment request form and evidence of eligible spend.  
• Grants will be paid in one single payment. However, in some exceptional cases, multiple payments (still in arrears) may be agreed.  
• All evidence of eligible expenditure to make grant claims for equipment must be submitted by 28th February 2026 (we will agree the exact date with individual grantees).  
• Eligible evidence of spend is a) itemised invoice/s addressed to the applicant organisation, and b) bank statement/s showing the applicant organisation’s payment of the invoice/s.  
• You should bear the above in mind when deciding how much to apply for and should only apply for as much as you can afford to cashflow either in a single payment or in tranches of a maximum of 2-3 payments (tranche payment will be by exception and won’t be agreed for all grantees).  

What can you apply for?

The main principles of what you can apply for are:

• It is classed as eligible capital expenditure. 
• It meets the fund objectives. 
• It is not for routine maintenance or repair. 
• It is not for like for like replacement. 
• The expenditure is after the date your grant agreement is signed. i.e. we cannot fund costs that you incurred before that date. 
• It does not include input VAT reclaimable by you from HMRC. 
• Although the minimum grant size is £5,000, for equipment to be classed as capital and therefore eligible, all equipment items that make up the grant of £5k or more must each be £2,000 or greater in value. Note: multiples of identical items OR groups of interdependent items purchased from a single supplier on one invoice with a cumulative value of £2,000 or greater are also eligible.

Eligible costs of equipment and the £2,000 per item threshold can include:

• The equipment purchase cost, and
• Where applicable, all costs necessary to bring the equipment to working condition for its intended use which can include delivery and handling, site preparation, installation, related professional fees for architects and engineers.

Equipment assets can be considered as one grouped item and the combined value of them as meeting the £2,000 threshold if they meet both of the following:

• The individual assets are interdependent and used together to deliver a single purpose or function. Interdependent meaning one item on its own would not be useful or would not achieve the intended purpose without the others) AND
• The grouped assets are purchased from a single supplier and listed on a single invoice from
  that supplier.

Please ensure you read the BYS Application Form Guidance here and detailed list of BYS Eligible and Ineligible Expenditure here before applying to the fund as any applications for ineligible expenditure (or the component of the application that is ineligible) or without the right supporting documents will be rejected.

What documentation do I need to supply with my application?

The full application form guidance can be found here. 

You must submit one application per site i.e. per building where any equipment/ vehicles will primarily be stored:  

• If any equipment/ vehicles will take place/ be primarily stored at one site, you must submit one application.   
• If any equipment/ vehicles will take place/ primarily be stored at different sites, you must submit one application per site.  
• A single application form can include, equipment and vehicle costs provided they are all at the same site.   
• The total request per site must not exceed £100k for equipment and vehicle costs.You must upload the following documents to your application.   

1) Quotes / Website Listings   

In order to demonstrate value for money you will need to provide quotes or specific website listings of the items you are applying for. They must all be itemised and dated/ obtained within the last 3 months at the point of application.   

For Equipment/vehicles requests we require:   

• Items up to £10k:  1 quote or 1 specific website listing showing the item/s and the cost of it.   
• Items above £10k:  3 quotes or 3 specific website listings showing the item/s and the cost of it.  

If you are unable to provide 3 quotes for equipment/ vehicles above £10k, we will still accept your application, but you will be asked in the application form a) why this has not been possible and b) how you have ensured value for money.  Applications that can demonstrate good value for money may score more highly.  

 Uniformed groups, Community Benefit and Cooperative Societies – additional documentation   

• Governing document.   
• Most recent set of annual financial accounts (including income and expenditure, and balance sheet – if you have one).   

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re query isn’t covered in this section, please take a look at our more detailed FAQ’s document below. If it still isn’t covered, please contact our team at BYS@sibgroup.org.uk

When will the fund close? 

The deadline for applications is 12 Noon on Thursday 6th November 2025.  

All grant drawdown requests and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure to make grant claims must be submitted by 28th February 2026 (we will agree the exact date with individual grantees) 

Do you have a copy of the application form? 

The link to the online application form can be found on our website. There is an Application Form Guidance document which provides detailed information on the fund and lists all application form questions and provides guidance on how to complete them. We strongly recommend you carefully read the detailed guidance document before starting to complete the online form.  

How long does it take to complete the application form? 

Due to the very tight timelines to deliver this fund, this is a single stage grant application, and we need to ask for all information upfront with the application form – therefore the application form will take some time to complete.   

Before you start the online form, we strongly recommend you carefully read the detailed application form guidance document and eligible/ineligible expenditure document, collect together all the required documents, and only then start the online application form.  

This will make completing the form a lot quicker and easier. If you have done this and have all required information to hand and ready to upload, the form will take at least one hour to complete. You do not have to complete your application in one go – you can save and return to your application at a later date – just make sure you remember the email address and password you use to save your application, and when you log back in you do so from the same email address.  

If you don’t include all of the requested information with your application, you include ineligible items of spend or what you are applying for doesn’t appear feasible within the fund timelines, we might not have the time to come back you to ask questions or request further information, and your application (or part of it) might be rejected.   

How many applications should we submit? 

You must submit one application per site i.e. per building where any equipment/ vehicles will primarily be stored. If any equipment/ vehicles will primarily be stored at one site, you must submit one application. If any equipment/ vehicles will primarily be stored at different sites, you must submit one application per site. A single application form can equipment and vehicle costs provided they are all at the same Site. The total request per site must not exceed £100k. Each application would need to ensure it meets the eligibility criteria on the website and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  

Can an application include a mix of requests? 

A single application can include equipment and vehicle costs provided they are all at the same site. However, the total request per site must not exceed £100k. 

Can an application be rejected on one element, but be awarded on another? 

Applications will be reviewed as a whole where all items are eligible. You can add multiple items within the application (per site) for equipment or vehicles (up to £100k). If an application includes ineligible elements, then depending on the exact nature of the application, either: 

• the application may be rejected in whole; or 
• ineligible item(s) may be rejected (e.g. in an equipment application where one item was ineligible, this item would be rejected, while remaining eligible items would be considered).  

Is there a limit on how much you will fund? 

The minimum grant is £5k and the maximum is £100k per site (not per organisation) – this can include a combination of equipment and vehicle costs provided they are all at the same site.  

All individual items of equipment must be £2,000 or greater in value.  Eligible costs of equipment and the £2,000 per item threshold can include:  

• The equipment purchase cost, and   
• Where applicable, all costs necessary to bring the equipment to working condition for its intended use which can include delivery and handling, site preparation, installation, related professional fees for architects and engineers. 

Equipment assets can be considered as one grouped item and the combined value of them as meeting the £2,000 threshold if they meet both of the following: 
 
a) The individual assets are interdependent and used together to deliver a single purpose or function. Interdependent meaning one item on its own would not be useful or would not achieve the intended purpose without the others). The grouped items do not need to be from a single supplier or on a single invoice.  
 
Eligible Example 1: Purpose IT set up:  A CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables may each cost less than £2,000, but combined together cost £2,000, they would be eligible as the assets are interdependent and used together to deliver a single purpose or function. 
Ineligible example: A list of items that includes a computer, and some goals nets. The computer and goal nets are not interdependent and used together to deliver a single purpose or function so cannot be grouped together. E.g. if computer was £1,000 and goal nets were £1000, they would each be treated as separate items for the £2,000 threshold and would not be eligible. 

Please enter any interdependent items for a single purpose into the same Planned Use on the application form. 

However please note, the grant is paid in arrears so you will need to be able to cashflow the grant, either in full or in 2-3 tranches. You must bear this in mind when deciding how much to apply for and should only apply for as much as you can afford to cashflow. 

Which postcode should we use to check eligibility?  

You should use the postcode of the building/land where the equipment/ vehicle being purchased will primarily be stored. This postcode must be in one of the priority areas to be eligible. Equipment/ vehicles cannot primarily be stored at someone’s home. 

How were the priority areas selected? 

The 42 priority areas have been selected by the government based on the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) at upper tier local authority level. DCMS will publish the full methodology used on the day the fund is open for applications. 

 
What is the definition of Open Access Youth Provision? 

Open access youth provision is youth work that: 

• Happens outside school hours* 
• Is not part of formal education or alternative provision 
• Is open to all young people—no referral needed** 
• Is actively promoted to local young people 
• Involves trusted adults who guide, support, and challenge 

It can still be open access if: 

• There’s a waiting list, as long as anyone can join it 
• There’s a registration process, as long as it’s not selective 
• It charges a fee, as long as cost isn’t a barrier 

*There may be exceptions for young people aged 18-25 where they have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or are considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable 

**Self-referral is allowed and young people with SEND or physical disabilities may need a parent or carer to help them access provision. 

Requirement that 50% of provision needs to be to children and young people – what is this based on? 

An applicant must be working with children and young people, with at least 50% of their provision being for children/ young people aged up to 18; and a significant proportion of the offering must be open access youth provision for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years (or up to 25 years if they have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable). This should be based on your regular beneficiaries of the the service (equipment/ vehicle projects) you are applying for. 

What is the definition of ‘youth facilities’? 

A site (which can be a building, land or mobile unit) where the primary aim is providing provision for children/young people up to the ages of 18 (or 25 where the young people have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable). 

Funding up to 25 years if the young people have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or considered ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’ – What is the definition of ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’? 

We would consider groups such as those experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence or leaving care as ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’. This is not an exhaustive list, and we will assess on an individual basis. 

What are enrichment activities? 

‘Enrichment’ involves activities that enhance an individual’s learning by providing greater depth or opportunities to apply knowledge or skills in real-world or practical settings, including teaching knowledge and skills such as fostering critical thinking and problem solving, or stimulating emotional, and social growth. Enrichment activities encompass a wide range of structured activities and clubs, including (but not limited to) sports, music, art, drama, dance, outdoor/adventure, debating, volunteering, youth groups, business/enterprise and tech/digital. They can also include engaging with culture more widely (e.g. visiting museums, libraries, theatres, galleries). 

What are the fund objectives? 

The fund aims to fund small scale-capital projects and for the purpose of this additional round of BYS capital equipment to help youth organisations to better support the young people they work with.  

All applications/ project must meet at least one of the fund objectives: 

1. Improving the reach of activities provided. 
2. Improving the safety of existing youth facilities. 
3. Improve the youth sector’s capacity and quality to deliver a range of enrichment activities*. 
4. Improving the financial sustainability of youth facilities. 

Do you prefer applications to meet more than 1 of the fund objectives or is 1 enough? 

Applicants must meet a minimum of 1 of the fund’s objectives. 

My organisation charges a fee – are we eligible?   

Organisations that charge a fee may be eligible provided they meet the definition of Open Access Youth Provision, and the cost isn’t a barrier. 

My organisation provides services to a specific group of young people/ targeted services – are we eligible?  

Organisations that provide services to a specific group of young people may be eligible provided they meet the definition of Open Access Youth Provision on the Better Youth Spaces website. This can include organisations working with specific communities provided any young person can attend the provision if they wanted to and the provision is promoted as open to all.  

My organisation provides services via referral – are we eligible?  

Organisations that provide services via referral may be eligible in some circumstances provided they meet the definition of Open Access Youth Provision on the Better Youth Spaces website. 

We work primarily in schools – are we eligible?  

Activities may take place in schools but must meet the definition Open Access Youth Provision on the Better Youth Spaces website, and if equipment is going to be stored at a school it cannot be used by the school. 

Our youth space is used by children from 0-18 years of age at various times of the week – are we eligible? 

If you meet this criteria you may be eligible – must be working with children and young people, with at least 50% of their provision being for children/ young people aged up to 18; and a significant proportion of the offering must be open access youth provision for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years (or up to 25 years if they have special educational needs or disabilities, are leaving care, or considered ‘at risk’ or vulnerable).   

As part of the application process, we ask how many hours a week of open access youth provision you currently provide for young people, and how many hours of support are provided to young people aged 11-18 years. We may request a timetable of your weekly activities including those led by a trusted adult and for what age groups. We will prioritise applications where organisations provide higher levels of support to our key groups & age ranges. 

We work across multiple venues – are we eligible?  

Organisations who work across multiple venues may be eligible if they meet all eligibility criteria on the website. Any equipment must primarily be stored at a site located in an eligible postcode. In the application form you will need to include the site address for where any equipment will primarily be stored. This will not prevent another organisation using the same site from applying to the fund – the grant will be awarded to the organisation rather than the site. 

My organisation has been operating for over 2 years, but we only set up as a charity/ company less than 2 years ago. Are we eligible?  

If the organisation has been actively operating for at least two years and can provide at least one set of annual financial accounts, you may be eligible. If you cannot fulfil these criteria, you are not eligible. 

Are there any restriction on either turnover or reserves that would prevent an organisation from applying? 

There is no upper limit on turnover or reserves to be eligible for this fund. The grant will be paid in arrears so you must be able to cashflow the grant and should take this into consideration when deciding how much to apply for as your ability to cashflow the grant will be assessed. 

Is there an upper limit for how much money can be applied for in relation to the size of the organisation e.g. if the organisation has an annual income of £25k, would there be a limit to how much money you can apply for?  

There is no upper limit. Grant awards for successful applications will be between £5k – £100k, but remember that if your application is successful grant awards are paid in arrears so you will need to be able to pay for any equipment/ vehicle from your own funds prior to receiving the grant money – you need to bear this in mind when deciding how much to apply for as your ability to cashflow the project will be assessed. 

Are there any ineligible sector/ activities? 

The following are not eligible: 

• Schools and Parent Teacher Association, Colleges, Multi-academy trusts, Universities and student unions or any organisations focused on the enhancement of service provision by schools, colleges, multi-academy trusts or universities. 
• Hospitals. 
• Companies Limited by Shares.  
• The grant cannot be used to promote religion. 

Also see here for a list of eligible and ineligible expenditure for this fund. 

What legal structures are eligible? 

The following are eligible: 

• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). 
• Company Limited by Guarantee (with dividend, asset and mission lock). 
• Community Interest Company (CIC) Limited by Guarantee. 
• Community Interest Company (CIC) Limited by Shares. 
• Local Authority. 
• Co-operative Societies and Community Benefit Societies (with dividend, asset and mission lock).  

Applications that are not one of the above legal forms, but are a charity registered with the Charity Commission, or are a uniformed group (e.g. Scouts, Guides etc..) are also eligible. Other types of unincorporated organisations are not eligible. 

If you are unincorporated and not a charity registered with the charity commission or a uniformed organisation, then unfortunately you would not be eligible. Any registrations with HMRC or other bodies would not in itself meet the eligibility criteria. 

Uniformed organisations and community benefit societies must provide with their application their governing document and most recent set of annual financial accounts. 

Are unincorporated organisations eligible? 

We can only accept applications from unincorporated uniformed groups, or unincorporated charities registered with the Charity Commission. We do not accept applications from other types of unincorporated organisations.  

Are uniformed organisations eligible? 

Uniformed organisations will need to meet all eligibility criteria listed on the website, including the definition of Open Access Youth Provision. Uniformed organisations and community benefit societies must provide with their application their governing document and most recent set of annual financial accounts. 

Are sports clubs eligible? 

Sports clubs will need to meet all eligibility criteria listed on the Better Youth Spaces website, including having an eligible legal structure and meeting the definition of Open Access Youth Provision.  

Are faith-based organisations eligible? 

Faith based organisations will need to meet all eligibility criteria listed on the website, including having an eligible legal structure and meeting the definition of Open Access Youth Provision on the Better Youth Spaces website. The grant cannot be used to promote religion.  

How many Directors/ Trustees does an organisation need to be eligible? 

An organisation must have at least two unrelated governing body directors/ trustees/ committee members to be eligible. 

What is the definition of equipment costs? 

Applicants to round 2 of Better Youth Spaces must correctly assign equipment costs in their application. 

Equipment = Items that have no permanent connection to the structure of the building, the ground (in the case of land) and can be removed will be considered equipment. Examples would be pool tables, sofas, computer equipment in a bus, swings or playground equipment not fixed to the ground, fridges or cookers that are not integrated. 

Equipment requests: All individual items of equipment must be £2,000 or greater in value. Please see FAQ on “Is there a limit on how much you will fund?” for the criteria on grouped items.  

Eligible costs of equipment and the £2,000 per item threshold can include: 

• The equipment purchase cost, and  
• Where applicable, all costs necessary to bring the equipment to working condition for its intended use which can include delivery and handling, site preparation, installation, related professional fees for architects and engineers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Refurbishment = Items that have a permanent connection to the structure of the building, the ground (in the case of land) or the vehicle (in the case of mobile units) and cannot be removed will be considered part of refurbishment works. Examples would include integrated cookers, built in storage cupboards, sensory garden items bolted to ground, playground items bolted to ground, accessible ramp attached to the bus etc. 

Refurbishment requests: The total refurbishment project must cost £50k or less on a stand-alone basis and not have dependencies within a larger & higher costs refurbishment or building project.            

Is integrated equipment classed as equipment or refurbishment? 

Some integrated (e.g. kitchen equipment or adaptions to vehicles) and wall mounted equipment (Wall mounted TV) might meet the equipment definition if you can demonstrate that it does not have a permanent connection to the structure of the land or building: See “What is the definition of refurbishment and equipment costs?”                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Are equipment installation costs eligible? 

See “What is the definition of refurbishment and equipment costs?”  

Are mobile youth facilities eligible?  

A mobile youth facility is eligible provided it meets all eligibility criteria on the website, including primarily being stored at an eligible postcode. Also, see What is the definition of refurbishment and equipment costs? 

Are vehicles used to transport young people eligible? Is a minibus eligible? 

Vehicles used to transport young people may be eligible provided it meets one of the fund objectives, will be primarily be stored at a site in an eligible postcode and it meets all of the eligibility criteria listed on the website.  

Can we apply to replace equipment/ vehicle at the end of its life? 

You may as long as it isn’t classed as like for like. See “What is deemed to be “like for like” replacement?” You will need to clearly demonstrate how any replacement is not like for like, and how following purchase it would meet at least one of the fund objectives. 

We have a mobile youth bus and would like to install some gaming equipment which would need to be supplied and installed by a specialist fitter – would this be classed as equipment or refurbishment?  

See “What is the definition of refurbishment and equipment costs?” Refurbishment of a vehicle delivering youth facilities could be classified as equipment and will need to meet the same criteria as equipment. 

Are vehicle running costs eligible? 

Vehicle running costs e.g. insurance, mot, training, fuel etc. would be considered revenue expenditure not capital expenditure. Revenue expenditure is not eligible. However, Vehicle Excise Duty paid when purchasing the vehicle is eligible. 

What is deemed to be “like for like” replacement? 

Like for Like replacement is ineligible.  

Equipment/vehicles will not be deemed like for like if: 

1. It is not identical to what you already have, AND  
2. It meets one of the fund objectives.  

If the replacement equipment/vehicle is identical or delivers no improvements in the above areas versus what it is replacing, then it would be deemed to be “like for like” replacement and therefore ineligible. 

Would the purchase of additional equipment be seen outside of the “not like for like replacement” if this is additional equipment to create more opportunities for more children? 

If the equipment is in addition to what you already have and it would not be considered like for like and would be eligible provided it meets the fund objectives  

We are a small CIC without our own venue at the moment; can I apply for venue hire or equipment costs to use in a hired venue? 

Venue hire costs are not eligible as they would be classed as revenue expenditure not capital. You can apply for capital equipment provided it meets all eligibility criteria listed on the website. 

Would a Residential Outdoor Education Centre be eligible for funding? 

A residential outdoor education centre may be eligible if you meet all eligibility criteria listed on the fund website.  

In terms of an outdoor learning project, would creation of outdoor classrooms fall under equipment? This includes seating area, creation of a water habitat etc. 

This would be classed as a refurbishment project and not eligible for this round of Better Youth Spaces Fund. See What is eligible/ ineligible expenditure? i.e. eligible refurbishment expenditure includes – landscaping of outdoor space, including providing sensory gardens and visually improving the appearance of outdoor areas. 

If the minimum cost of an item must be £2,000 (unless they are identical) how would creating a sensory room meet the criteria as individual items for the room may be less than £2000, but the total cost of the room would be more than £2,000? 

Please refer to the criteria outlined in the FAQ “Is there a limit on how much you will fund?” 

Would chairs, tables and furniture (for the youth base) be classed as equipment? 

Yes. However please refer to the criteria outline in the FAQ “Is there a limit on how much you will fund?” 

Does equipment have to be stored on site at all times? 

No. When you apply you will be asked to provide the address for there the equipment will primarily be stored (e.g. Youth centre) – this must be in an eligible postcode. Equipment cannot be in someone’s home. 

Can we apply for music equipment to open a music dept? 

Yes, provided it meets all eligibility criteria on the fund website. See What is eligible/ ineligible expenditure? 

Would assets such as materials purchased through a franchise agreement (that will be used to expand our youth provision) be considered as eligible capital expenditure? Can we use the funds to purchase a coding and AI learning franchise? Can the grant cover online spaces (rather than physical spaces)? 

Possibly, you would need to meet all eligibility criteria on the website, including the site you will deliver the service from being in an eligible postcode, the definition of Open Access Youth Provision, and the expenditure being classed as eligible expenditure. Note: IT improvements including websites, portals, platforms and new IT equipment are listed as eligible equipment expenditure. IT subscriptions are listed as ineligible equipment expenditure.  

Can you fund costs we have already incurred? 

The fund can only pay for eligible expenditure (as per the grant agreement) incurred after the date the grant agreement is signed. We cannot fund retrospectively/ costs that you incurred before that date.  

Should we build in contingency, in case of cost increases? 

There is no contingency attached to the grant. If there is a change in the grant amount required due to cost increases you will need contact us and we will assess a request to vary the grant value on a case-by-case basis. 

Can I apply for items/ work including VAT? 

You should claim for any irrecoverable VAT when applying to fund, but you should not include anything that you will be eligible to recover. 

Do we need to provide quotes?  

In order to demonstrate value for money you will need to provide quotes or website listings. They must all be itemised and dated/ obtained within the last 6 months at the point of application. They must be uploaded to the application. 

For Equipment:  

(i) Items up to £10k:  1 quote or 1 website listing showing the item and the cost of it.  

(ii) Items above £10k:  3 quotes or 3 website listings showing the item and the cost of it. 

All applications regardless of quote requirements must demonstrate good value for money with detail on why the specific supplier you have chosen represents good value for money. 

If you are unable to obtain 3 quotes we will still consider your application provide you provide a rationale for why you have not been able to obtain 3 quotes and how your chosen supplier represents good value for money.  

Do you require the quotes at the point of application or once we know if our application has been successful? 

Due to the tight timescales to deliver this fund we require the quotes (and all other supporting documents) at the point of application. 

What are the grant payment terms? 

All grants will be paid in arrears on receipt and approval of a payment request form and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure. 

Payment in arrears means you pay for the items we have agreed to fund (as per your grant agreement), you submit a payment request form and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure, and we then pay the grant funds to you.     

All grants will be paid in one single payment. However, in some exceptional cases, multiple payments (still in arrears) may be agreed. If you are unable to fund the full grant in one go (and can evidence this through provision of a bank statement showing insufficient cash in the last month) and it can be completed in the time frames of the fund, we can consider grants payments in tranches (still in arrears) e.g. For a grant of £20k we could look to make 2 x £10k payments, with each £10k grant payment made upon receipt of a payment request form and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure for each £10k tranche. 

All payment requests and suitable evidence of eligible must be submitted to SIB by: 

• 28th February 2026  

(We will agree the exact date with individual grantees).  

Eligible evidence of spend is a) itemised invoice/s addressed to the applicant organisation, and b) bank statement/s showing the applicant organisation’s payment of the invoice/s.  

You should bear the above in mind when deciding how much to apply for and should only apply for as much as you can afford to cashflow either in a single payment or in tranches of a maximum of 2-3 payments (tranche payment will be by exception and won’t be agreed for all grantees).  

What will we need to provide to drawdown the grant? 

You will need to submit a drawdown request form and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure to drawdown your grant. Evidence of expenditure includes: 

1. An itemised invoice/s addressed to the applicant organisation for each item, and  
2. A bank statement in the name of the applicant organisation showing the invoice/s being paid for.  

We cannot make grant payments based solely on you providing itemised invoices from suppliers where these invoices have not yet been paid by you. 

If a supplier agrees to be paid an arrears after the work is carried out, can we still apply? 

We unfortunately cannot release the grant until the supplier has submitted an invoice and has been paid, please see “What will we need to provide to drawdown the grant?”  

Can we use a bridging loan to cover any cashflow shortfalls? 

You need to be able to demonstrate that you can cashflow the grant (as it is paid in arrears) from your own resources and within the timelines of the fund. The resources must be in place at the point of application and cannot be applied for or raised post application.  

If you need ‘tranche’ drawdowns, will this impact on eligibility and/or how you are assessed i.e. will it reduce chances of getting the funding? 

It will not impact on eligibility. However, we will consider requests for tranche drawdowns on a case-by-case basis to make sure the tranches are required and are viable within the timeframes of the fund. If we don’t think something is viable within the timeframes of the fund your application may be rejected. 

Once a payment request form and evidence of expenditure has been provided, how long does it take for the grant to be paid? 

You will need to allow at least 30 calendar days from submission of your payment request form and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure (invoices and bank statements showing the funds leaving your account) for the payment to be disbursed. You will need to ensure the correct information is received in a timely manner as per the agreed dates set out in the grant agreement. 

Can I apply for match funding or part funding? 

Due to the tight timescales to deliver this fund we cannot consider match funding or part funding requests. Your application must cover the full costs of the equipment/ vehicle. 

Do you accept partnership applications?  

Due to the tight timescales to deliver the fund we cannot accept partnership applications. 

Can I apply on behalf of another organisation? 

The applicant organisation must meet all of the eligibility criteria on the website. If successful, the grant agreement will be in the name of the applicant organisation and is non-transferable.  

The applicant organisation will need to spend the funds, evidence they have spent it (invoice and bank statement in the name of the applicant organisation) and the grant will be paid into a bank account in the name of the applicant organisation. 

Do you need to see a copy of our Safeguarding policy? 

No, but you do need to comply with SIB’s Safeguarding Policy. 

Can Youth Investment Fund recipients apply?  

Yes. Youth Investment Fund (YIF) recipients will need to meet all eligibility criteria listed on the website, including being based in an eligible postcode. YIF recipients will not be prioritised for this fund. Each application will be considered on its own merit. 

We want to purchase equipment but the postcode that it is stored at will change – is this ok? 

If your current postcode for the primary site at which the equipment will be stored is eligible then you are able to apply for funding. If the primary site at which the equipment will be stored changes, then it would be your responsibility to inform us and ensure the new postcode is eligible – this would be considered a grant variation. We do not envisage any problems approving a grant variation if the new building is in an eligible postcode and there have been no other changes to your application or youth provision. 

We have 5 different sites we want to apply for; do we have to make 5 separate applications to your fund? 

See “How many applications should we submit?” 

Can one organisation apply for multiple grants for different buildings? 

Yes. See “How many applications should we submit?” and “Is there a limit on how much you will fund?” 

Our organisation provides outreach across a number of sites for young people, are we eligible? 

Yes, provided you meet all eligibility criteria on the website. If applying for equipment/ vehicle you need to include in your application the address for where the equipment/ vehicle will primarily be stored and it must be in an eligible area.  

What is the process post application? 

When your application is received, we will first check for eligibility. If your application is deemed to be ineligible, you will be notified. If it is deemed to be eligible your application will move to the pool of eligible applications and if prioritised it will be assessed and a decision made on whether to recommend it to the grant panel. The grant panel will meet monthly (possibly more frequently if required) from September to December. We will notify successful/ unsuccessful applicants following each grant panel. Some applicants may not find out whether they have been successful/ unsuccessful until after the last grant panel in December 2025. 

Will you make decisions on a first come, first served basis? How will applications be prioritised?  

Grants will not be awarded on a first come, first served basis. We expect a large volume of applications for this fund and so assessment will be a combination of data led prioritisation and assessments by the team. Applications will be processed in an order according to those that meet the fund priorities most closely. Grant prioritisation/ distribution will aim to reflect the purposes of the fund listed on the website. We will primarily be looking at factors such as youth provision and value for money. We will also try to ensure fair distribution of funding geographically across eligible areas and across different organisation types in the youth sector where possible. 

What is the process post grant approval? 

If your application is successful, we will email you to outline the provisional offer and to request further information from you e.g. signatory details, bank statement for the account you would like the funds paid into and to agree a payment schedule. We will then carry out our know your customer and due diligence checks. If your organisation passes these checks, we will send you your formal offer letter and grant agreement via DocuSign for electronic signing. Two people from your governing body (e.g. board of directors, trustees) will need to sign promptly on receipt of the DocuSign pack. Once the offer letter and grant agreement has been signed by both SIB and your two signatories, you can spend the grant funds (as per the grant agreement). Once the grant is spent you will need to submit a grant drawdown request and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure on the dates agreed in your payment schedule post approval we will agree the exact date with individual grantees) All grant payments must be made by 28th February 2026. We will then pay you the grant funds and send you the end of grant monitoring form. 

Our application has been unsuccessful can we reapply? 

No. If your application has been unsuccessful for your site then you cannot reapply to this fund. 

I have made an application and we are waiting on a decision, but we would like to apply for funding for another project we run on the same site, can we apply again? 

No. You can only apply to the fund once per site. 

What is eligible/ ineligible expenditure? 

Eligible Expenditure 

Below sets out what the fund can and can’t pay for.  

If your application includes ineligible expenditure in the funding request, the application or that part of it will be rejected. 

Eligible Equipment Expenditure 

Equipment = Items that have no permanent connection to the structure of the building, the ground (in the case of land) or the vehicle (in the case of mobile units) and can be removed will be considered equipment.  

Examples would be pool tables, sofas, computer equipment in a bus, swings or playground equipment not fixed to the ground, fridges or cookers that are not integrated. 

• One off purchase of equipment needed to improve a facility’s youth offer. 
• Equipment to improve health and wellbeing, such as outdoor gym equipment. 
• IT improvements including websites, portals, platforms and new IT equipment. 
• Purchase of vehicles or mobile units, which could be used for detached youth work or as mobile youth centres. 
• Furnishings which enhance/materially benefit the facility’s provision. 
• Equipment that will allow greater access to young people with disabilities. 
• Equipment that will expand and enrich youth activities offered by existing providers. 
• Equipment to improve safeguarding and security for young people e.g. CCTV installations, motion detecting lighting, improved building security. 
• All individual items of equipment must be £2,000 or greater in value. Note: please see criteria outlined in FAQ “Is there a limit on how much you will fund?” for grouped items. 

Ineligible Equipment Expenditure 

• Routine maintenance and repair costs of equipment. 
• Like-for-like replacement of existing equipment*. 
• IT subscriptions. 
• Individual equipment Items of less than £2,000 in value, including multiples of non-interdependent items with a cumulative value of less than £2,000 purchased in a single transaction. 
• Input VAT reclaimable by You from HMRC. 
• Any kind of voucher to purchase equipment/vehicles (including gift vouchers)

Note:  

*Where replacing equipment/vehicles it will be deemed as not being like for like when the equipment/vehicle being purchased i) is not identical, and ii) it meets one of the fund objectives. If the replacement equipment/vehicle delivers no improvements in these areas versus the original equipment/vehicle then it would be deemed to be “like for like” replacement and therefore ineligible. You will need to clearly demonstrate this in your application. 

General Ineligible Expenditure 

• Operating expenses. 
• Payment that supports lobbying or activity intended to influence or attempt to influence Parliament, Government or political parties, or attempting to influence the awarding or renewal of contracts and grants or attempting to influence legislative or regulatory action. 
• Using grant funding to petition for additional funding. 
• Input VAT reclaimable by you from HMRC. 
• Payments for activities of a political or exclusively religious nature. 
• Goods or services that you have a statutory duty to provide. 
• Payments reimbursed or to be reimbursed by other public or private sector grants. 
• Contributions in kind (i.e. a contribution in goods or services, as opposed to money). 
• Depreciation, amortisation or impairment of fixed assets owned by you. 
• Interest payments (including service charge payments for finance leases). 
• Gifts to individuals other than promotional items with a value of no more than £25 a year to any one individual. 
• Entertaining (entertaining for this purpose means anything that would be a taxable benefit to the person being entertained, according to current UK tax regulations). 
• Statutory fines, criminal fines or penalties. 
• Liabilities incurred before the issue of this funding agreement unless agreed in writing by us. 
• Use in respect of costs reimbursed or to be reimbursed by funding from any other source. 
• Use to purchase buildings or land.