THE NATIONAL YOUTH AGENCY: Going back to your roots

Recently, an audience at Beverley's historic 14th century Guildhall found themselves acting as judge and jury in an unusual drama. A grant of 12,000 from the Young Roots programme had enabled a group of young performers to research, develop and perform a drama based on the town's archives. The play told the story of a young woman accused of stealing against a background of political corruption in the 1860s. Producing this play allowed young people to understand their characters as well develop their understanding of social history, attitudes towards women and the legal system in the 19th century. It also improved their research and acting skills.

Now groups all over the country can obtain funding for projects that help young people look at their heritage - the people and influences that have made their communities what they are today. Young Roots is being rolled out nationwide as a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund and The National Youth Agency.

You can obtain an application pack from your regional or national HLF office (see below) and will need to show that your project involves young people aged between 13 and 20 and that they are involved in managing and carrying out the project. The project should be developed in partnership with a heritage organisation. Grants of between 5,000 and 25,000 are available.

Applications for grants will be received twice a year with cut-off dates 31 March and 31 August each year starting from March 2003. Young Roots Coordinators, all with youth work backgrounds, will be available to offer advice and guidance on the development of a project and can be contacted at one of the HLF offices below.

East of England Kett House, Station Road Cambridge CB1 2JT Phone: 01223 224871

South West Trinity Court Southernhay East Exeter EX1 1PG Phone: 01392 223950

West Midlands Bank House 8 Cherry Street Birmingham B2 5AL Phone: 0121 616 6870

North West 9th Floor 82 King Street Manchester M2 4WQ Phone: 0161 831 0851

North East St Nicholas Building St Nicholas Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1TH Phone: 0191 255 7570

Yorkshire and the Humber Carlton Tower 34 St Paul's Street Leeds LS1 2QB Phone: 0113 388 8030

East Midlands Chiltern House St Nicholas Court 25-27 Castle Gate Nottingham NG1 7AR Phone: 0115 934 9050

South East of England and London 7 Holbein Place London SW1W 8NR Phone: 020 7591 6000

Wales Hodge House Guildhall Place Cardiff CF10 1DY Phone: 029 2034 3413

Scotland 28 Thistle Street Edinburgh EH2 1EN Phone: 0131 225 9450

Northern Ireland 51-53 Adelaide Street Belfast BT2 8FE Phone: 028 9031 1570