Three regional boards of young people - covering the east, north and west of England - have been created to administer the fund by Changemakers, the youth participation charity that the Department for Education and Skills has put in charge of the fund.
The fund, which Changemakers has renamed Y Speak, consists of two strands.
The first totals 90,000 and will provide grants of up to 4,000 to projects suggested by 16- to 19-year-olds. The second strand is worth 375,000 and will offer youth organisations grants of up to 10,000. International projects will also be supported. The remaining 35,000 will cover the regional boards' running costs.
Adam Nichols, business director at Changemakers, said Y Speak would have two rounds of funding. "Last year, grants were given on a rolling basis, but because the regional boards won't sit all year we are having two rounds of funding with deadlines in November and January," he said.
www.changemakers.org.uk.
