NYA young assessors ensure youth voice is at the heart of grant-making process

Name Young assessors

Provider National Youth Agency

The National Youth Agency (NYA) has recruited young assessors to review young people's contributions to grant applications for its Youth Investment Fund (YIF), which aims to level up youth work provision to some of the most deprived areas in England.

The YIF, which is funded by the government, is delivered by Social Investment Business in partnership with Key Fund, Resonance and the NYA. Grants are available to fund up to 300 youth facilities in levelling up priority areas, so that young people in deprived communities can access good-quality youth services and activities.

NYA has recruited 17 young people from across the country to review applications to the fund, specifically the parts completed by young people who will use the spaces and projects requesting funding. The young assessors, aged 16 to 24, meet regularly alongside NYA's youth participation officer Georgia Graham, to assess the applications submitted by young people, with a key focus on ensuring the projects involve and work with the young people who access them. “The young assessors are looking for young people to be passionate, confident and clear about what they’re asking for,” Graham says.