Youth Empowerment Fund

Our vision is to support and invest in a thriving and diverse voluntary and community sector (VCS) to enable it to improve outcomes for Tower Hamlets residents.

The Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) aims to support the empowerment of young people aged 11-19 years old (extending up to 25 years old for young people with special educational needs or disabilities and young people leaving care) to

• design
• deliver
• evaluate projects that are beneficial to them and other young people in their local community.

At the heart of this fund is that it is youth-led. It is all about projects for young people by young people with the guidance of supporting organisations.

This information explains how to apply for the Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) grant programme and build a great application.

What outcomes do we want to achieve?

The desired outcomes of the Youth Empowerment (YEF) grant funding programme supports the strategic ambitions and outcomes set out in the Strategic Plan 2022-2026.

Here are a range of positive outcomes for young people which the grant funding aims to further support the voluntary and community sector to achieve:

• Developing the aspirations, confidence and skills of young people involved in leading the project

• Challenging negative stereotypes of young people (e.g. celebrating the positive contributions of young people in the local community). 

• Promoting equality and diversity (e.g. celebrating the diversity of young people in the community and creating a fairer society for young people). 

• Developing peer education programmes whereby young people informally educate other young people about issues which are of priority and importance (e.g. wellbeing, peer influences, finance, inequality, knife crime, personal safety and social media).  

• Promoting the holistic health and wellbeing of young people (e.g. emotional wellbeing, mental health and physical health).

Eligibility

Funding is available to organisations and groups that can show a clear connection to Tower Hamlets with an income of below £150,000. Applicants will also need to meet at least one of the below structures:

• an unregistered voluntary and community group with a constitution 
• a Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) 
• a registered charity, including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) 
• a registered not-for-profit company (companies limited by guarantee with no share capital) 
• a registered Community Interest Company (CIC)  
• a faith-based group, where the funding is for inclusive activity that is open to all.

Funding is not available to:

• individuals
• sole traders
• profit making companies
• political organisations

How much money is available?

The total budget for the YEF funding theme is £250,000 per year. For this funding theme you can apply for up to a maximum amount of £3,500.

Your organisation can only receive one grant from this theme per financial year, which runs between 1 April to 31 March. If your application is unsuccessful, you can apply again in the same year in the next funding round.

What can the funding be used for? 

Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) grant funding can be used for:

• expenses of young people leading the project (e.g. travel and refreshments)
• staff wages associated with supporting young people’s participation in the planning, delivering and evaluation of projects following a successful application
• venue hire to support the planning, delivering and evaluation of projects
• equipment and resources to support the delivery of projects
• transport to support the delivery of projects
• promotion and marketing
• making projects accessible and inclusive for young people
• Public Liability insurance

If you have an idea of something you would like us to fund and you are not sure if it meets the criteria, then please email the team at vcs@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

What can funding not be used for? 

• Projects that are only planned, delivered and evaluated by adults
• General operating costs such as rent, utilities or administrative costs
• Long-term projects
• Alcohol
• Capital or major building works
• General charitable appeals
• To pay back debt or cover past expenditure

Timeline 

The bidding period for the grants programme will last for six weeks. All applications submitted by 1 June 2025 will be considered for decision in July 2025. 

When making applications please refer to the timeline for the application deadline, award notification period and project delivery dates. Please apply early and give enough time before your proposed project takes place. This way you know the outcome of your application before your event starts.  

Key dates for round 1 of the 2025/26 financial year

*In the review stage

We are currently reviewing the Mayor’s Small Grants Programme and in consultation with voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations, along with other key stakeholders. This review is part of our commitment to making sure the programme continues to meet the needs of small, not-for-profit groups and organisations.  

Following this consultation, we aim to introduce new and improved changes by June 2025. These updates will help ensure our funding remains relevant, accessible and impactful. This will support the vital work of grassroots organisations across our communities.

Organising events in parks and open spaces

If your project includes organising an event in an open space, you must get permission from the landowner.

Apply for the use of Tower Hamlets’ parks and open spaces and street parties.

Bidding process 

To apply you need to complete an application form and provide us with information about your organisation and what you want to use the funding for.

All bids must be submitted online through the council’s online portal, Blackbaud Grant Making (BBGM).  We cannot accept submissions by email, by post or by hand. 

Applications will be made on one form with two sections. The first section is about your organisation and the second section is about the project you’re bidding for.  

Assessment

Organisation assessment

The organisational assessment is to see if your organisation meets the standards the council expects of organisations it supports with public funds.

You will need to submit the following documents as part of the organisation assessment:

• a copy of your constitution or other governance document
• your address, rental agreement or evidence that you have successfully delivered services in Tower Hamlets for at least one year
• organisation bank account details
• evidence of income of below £150,000
• Safeguarding policy
• Equality and Diversity policy
• Public Liability insurance 

The governance, local connection and managing money criteria are mandatory (pass or fail). If your organisation fails on any of these criteria, you will not be eligible for funding. 

If you do not have a Safeguarding policy, Equality and Diversity policy or Public Liability insurance, you will still be eligible for funding (non-mandatory). A pre-award condition will be in place to ensure outstanding documents are provided should the organisation be recommended for funding.

Project assessment

To assess your project, we will use the following criteria:

• participation of young people
• aim and objective of project
• track record
• project proposal
• equalities
• health and safety
• budget and resources 

Access the portal

If you are having issues using BBGM please contact us at vcs@towerhamlets.org.uk.