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One of the key challenges in Youth Matters was to improve the provision of positive activities for young people, particularly those who are disadvantaged, in terms of more things to do and places to go. Young people should be able to benefit from a range of safe and enjoyable places to go including a wide range of sporting, cultural and recreational activities and experiences and opportunities for volunteering. Youth Matters proposed a discrete amount of resources for young people to control and to decide how this should be spent in their area.

The YOF and YCF should be used in tandem to allow young people to develop projects and initiatives which can contain both a capital and revenue element.

Empowering young people is a key theme of Youth Matters. We want young people to benefit from positive activities which foster their personal and social development and gives them the opportunity to enjoy sport and recreational activities.

As part of this the government introduced the Youth Opportunity (YOF) and the Youth Capital funds (YCF) which represented a real commitment to empower young people and to give them more choice and influence over provision and facilities in their area.

Originally for two years these funds have been so successful that they have now been extended until 2011, and through these funds young people will continue to  have a central role as: decision makers and grant givers, project leaders and participants. Derbyshire has been allocated £392,000 Opportunity Fund and £339,000 Capital Fund  each years for the next three years.

We have made arrangements to ensure that young people in the most disadvantaged areas participate in, and benefit from, the funds. Key to this approach is the engagement of young people at neighbourhood level so that they are able to play their part in contributing to stronger more cohesive communities.
 
Derbyshire Youth Forum undertook a consultation with young people across Derbyshire in May, June and July 2006.  The Youth Service worked along side disadvantaged young people to ensure their views were represented. Over 4,500 young people across the county responded with ideas and suggestions.

Derbyshire young people identified these as their priorities:

• A safe place to hang out
• More activities for young people
• More clubs and disco nights
• Internet Cafes
• Better cheaper transport
• More dance and drama clubs
• More and better sports facilities
• More cinema and leisure facilities   

The Big Vote with 20,000 young people electing their County Youth Forum and the commitment to Hear by Right has ensured that Derbyshire County Youth Forum welcomes proposals from all groups and has an inclusive approach to decision making on the Youth Opportunity, Youth Capital spend in Derbyshire. All the priorities identified in the consultation have been developed into a framework to help decide on awarding funds.

This is a real opportunity to change and improve provision and facilities for young people and to provide activities they will use and that will make a difference both to young people themselves and to their neighbourhood.

If you would like to propose a bid for the YOF or YCF monies please complete the proposal form below. 

If you would like support from your local youth workers to complete the proposal form or any additional guidance on applying please email youth.service@derbyshire.gov.uk 

Other funding opportunities

The Burton Breweries Charitable Trust provides grants of up to £2,500 for youth and community organisations in South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire. You can find out more on the Trust's website linked in the information from other websites section.