Youth services in 42 areas in England are being urged not to miss out on a share of the Government’s £30.5 million Better Youth Spaces grant funding, with the deadline for applications at the end of this week.
The Fund was launched by the Prime Minister on Wednesday 6 August and is offering grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 for youth organisations and councils in 42 priority areas. Funding can be used for new equipment, vehicles such as minibuses, or small refurbishment projects to improve facilities for young people.
With the application deadline on Sunday 21 September, hundreds of applications from eligible areas have now been submitted, but there is still time for services to apply. Social Investment Business, who are managing the Fund for the government, are urging youth services not to miss out on this funding.
Rob Benfield, Director of Investments at Social Investment Business, said:
“This funding is a chance to invest in young people – whether that’s creating safer spaces, improving facilities, or making it easier for young people to take part in activities. We strongly encourage local organisations to apply before the deadline so that young people don’t miss out.”
Applications could be made for whole range of schemes to benefit young people, including equipment such as pool tables, kayaks, musical instruments or gymnastics, dance, film making or recording equipment. Vehicles could also be funded, such as a minibus or mobile unit.
Beyond new equipment and vehicles, applications could include funding to kit out a space with sofas, revamp and refurbish a building or room for new use, or make it safer and more accessible with mobile ramps, CCTV or a new landscaped sensory garden.
Better Youth Spaces funding is available to not-for-profit youth organisations in 42 priority areas, selected by the government based on the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) at upper tier local authority level.
The application deadline for capital equipment, vehicles and refurbishments is midnight on Sunday 21 September. With all awarded funding for equipment needing to be spent by the end of January 2026, and refurbishments completed by February 2026.
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