Social action fund opens for bids

Called the Uniformed Youth Social Action Fund, the money will be distributed by The Youth United Foundation and the Cabinet Office.

In announcing the launch of the application process for funding, Rosie Thomas, director of Youth United Foundation, said: “Getting young people involved in social action activities, of benefit both to the young person and the wider community, is at the heart of what uniformed youth groups do.

“This programme will increase access to the life-changing opportunities they can offer young people, particularly in disadvantaged areas.”

The Uniformed Youth Social Action Fund was announced by the Chancellor George Osborne in March's Budget and has been collected from banking sector fines for inter-bank interest rate fixing.

This is the first round of funding applications – it is on offer to any uniformed youth organisation that runs social action projects and activities in disadvantaged areas.

A second funding round will launch in the autumn specifically for uniformed youth groups looking to pilot innovative approaches to increasing participation of hard-to-reach groups of young people in activities.

Civil society minister Nick Hurd said: “It is crucial that young people develop the skills, values and confidence they need as they move into adulthood. That is why we’re looking to increase the social action opportunities available for young people across the country.

"This fund allows youth organisations to create even more opportunities, helping to build a generation of young people with raised aspirations and greater prospects for their future.”