UK Youth fund receives 1,000 applications in three weeks

The charity launched its Thriving Minds fund in February, in partnership with the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust and the Westminster Foundation, to help youth organisations to support young people struggling with their mental health.

More than 1,000 applications were received in the three weeks after bids opened, totalling £30m per year, the charity said.

• Help young people through the cost-of-living crisis

• Interview – Ndidi Okezie, chief executive, UK Youth

UK Youth chief executive Ndidi Okezie said the scale of applications reveals huge challenges in supporting youth mental health and a lack of funding in the youth sector.

“This will rise as the effects of the cost-of-living crisis kick in,” Okezie added.

More than two thirds of applicants cited poverty as a significant factor affecting the mental health of the young people they are working with, she said.

“The demand has totally outstripped our funding, even with the generous support from Julia and Hans Rausing and the Westminster Foundation, nearly one thousand youth organisations and the thousands of young people they support will not get the help they need. With a youth support system already on its knees post pandemic we know these figures are only going to rise as we face the biggest cost of living crisis in a generation,” Okezie added.

UK Youth is seeking more partners to increase the Thriving Minds fund.

“We know with the right support, youth workers can spot the signs that a young person is experiencing difficulties and can support them to open up, talk through what they are going through and seek help if they need it. Young people are already feeling the effect; stress levels are rising at home and often the only person they feel safe sharing their concerns with is their youth worker,” Okezie said. 

Successful applicants who will receive a share of the fund will be announced in June.