We are pleased to announce that Tower Hamlets Youth and Connexions Service will once again be running the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) this year. YOF is a special fund that offers grants of up to £3,500 for youth projects in Tower Hamlets. Funding decisions are made by local young people who are trained in grant making.
Funding criteria
In 2012, there will be two funding rounds. The first one will be a special Olympics round, where all the projects applying for funding will have to promote one or more of the following 7 Olympic values:
- Respect
- Excellence
- Friendship
- Courage
- Determination
- Inspiration
- Equality
To find out more about the Olympic values, visit http://getset.london2012.com/en/resources/educators/the-olympic-and-paralympic-values
Projects must benefit young people who live, work or study in Tower Hamlets and priority will be given to those which include volunteering opportunities.
Registration
Anyone applying to YOF must be supported by an organisation registered with the Youth and Connexions Services Registration Scheme. If the organisation is not already registered with the scheme, they have to be in the process of registering when they submit their application.
Please note that no applications for YOF funding will be considered for groups not registered with this scheme.
Organisations can register online at: http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/851-900/871_community_grants.aspx.
If you have any queries about registering, please contact Akhlaqul Ambia on 020 7364 0903 or akhlaqul.ambia@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Payment of the grant
YOF grants will be paid in two parts; an initial 70% of the grant followed by the remaining 30% once we have received your Evaluation Form and receipts for the full 100% of the grant.
Organisations must be ready to cover their project costs while the grant is administered.
Application deadlines
Round One (Olympics round)
Deadline: 6 April 2012
Projects must be ready to start by 1 June and finish by 31 August. The Evaluation Report and receipts for the full 100% of the grant must be submitted by 30 September 2012.
Round Two
Deadline: 7 September 2012
Projects must be ready to start by 29 October 2012 and finish by 25 January 2013. The Evaluation Report and receipts for the full 100% of the grant must be submitted by 15 February 2013.
Important documents
Please click on the following links to read the guidance notes and make your application.
- Guidance notes – please read these before applying
- Application form
Become a member of the YOF panel!
We need new members to join our YOF panel and help decide which projects are funded in 2012. By becoming a panel member, you will be responsible for a total budget of £200k and will help change the lives of young people in Tower Hamlets.
You’ll also learn news skills to add to your CV, meet new people and make new friends, have loads of fun and experience new things.
To find out more and to apply, please click here. Applications need to be received by 24 February 2012.
Please note that all new panel members need to be able to attend a 3 day residential trip (16-18 March 2012) to Norfolk as part of their training.
Further information
If you have any questions, need help or would like a paper copy of the application form, please contact Boris Rupnik on 020 7364 3091 or email boris.rupnik@towerhamlets.gov.uk
