Young Start

What is it? Developed and run by the Big Lottery Fund, Young Start is a multi-million pound fund supporting Scotland’s children and young people to be more confident, healthy, enterprising and connected with older people in their community. It will focus on issues such as tackling youth unemployment by preparing young people for getting a job or starting a business.

How much is on offer? Young Start will invest £8.9m over the next year. The money comes from dormant accounts – bank and building society accounts that have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years.

What will it fund? Aimed at third sector organisations, Young Start will provide grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for up to two years for projects that help to unlock the potential of children and young people aged eight to 24.

It will fund a range of activities including: using local artists in creative arts projects to improve young people’s confidence; getting young people involved in sport through the use of local sports facilities, and allowing young people to teach older people how to use technology and try new activities such as using the internet, social networking and gaming.

It will also fund work experience tasters for young people with local employers, and will help fund projects that aim to build on existing resources to address issues in local communities that help young people overcome barriers and realise their ambition and potential.

When is the deadline? There is no set deadline. An application form can be downloaded at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/youngstartfund