Funding young people in policy-making grant

We want to fund projects, campaigns and organisations that help young people influence policy that affects them, and so redress power imbalances in policymaking. We hope to fund work that builds accessible and inclusive structures for ensuring young people’s voices are heard and acted upon.

Examples of work that we might support through this programme include:

• Deliberative and/or creative processes for developing, informing and advocating for policy recommendations
• Peer research and follow-up advocacy
• Programmes that allow young people and policy-makers to work side-by-side -Initiatives to support young people from under-represented backgrounds to themselves take up policy-making roles

We also want to learn about effective work already being done, and so are very keen to hear about promising and innovative models for youth engagement and leadership in policy-making that might look different to those listed above.

We accept that it is hard to guarantee policy impact and so are looking for evidence of potential. This might look like strong connections to relevant decision-makers, a track record of having influenced policy in the past, and/or being clear about the opportunity to influence (for example, upcoming government legislation, spending decisions, guidance, consultation outcomes, or policy papers). We will support work on any policy issue that directly affects the young people involved.

We recognise that work that meaningfully involves young people and responds to external context and changing opportunities to influence, will itself evolve and develop over time.

A learning partner will be appointed to work across all funded work, and partners will be expected to work as a cohort, sharing achievements, learning and successful models and approaches. Our learning partner will support organisations to reflect together and internally and share this knowledge across the youth and democracy sectors. We are currently advertising for a learning partner – please find more information and how to apply here.

This funding is for…

• Charities and non-profit organisations in England that are supporting young people (aged 16-25) with experience of social injustice to be heard in policy-making processes
• Work targeting either national or local government policy-making, or the policies of large public bodies such as the police or NHS
• Organisations with the skills to deliver the work alone, or in partnership
• Either new or ongoing work