The money could be used to put on many different youth groups or events. Pic: Irven Lewis
Projects aimed at helping young people in Hackney are being invited to apply for grants totalling £150,000.
The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) is providing young people aged 8-19, who work or study in Hackney, the opportunity to run youth activities throughout the borough.
The funding, which provides grants of up to £3,000 for each project, aims to encourage young people in the area to take parting in activities which help personal and social development.
Some funded projects include sports, dance, arts and drama, in addition to activities focusing on health, crime, culture and the environment.
Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “The Youth Opportunity Fund is one of the ways young people in the borough can make a difference in their community.
“It enables our ambitious youth to get their ideas turned into reality, and gives young people a say in what activities are funded. I would encourage all of Hackney’s younger residents to get involved with this exciting programme.”
Past funding recipients include Hackney Quest tag rugby team, who received a grant to fund a tour to Zambia.
Janita Halsey, Youth Manager at Hackney Quest said: “The Youth Opportunity Fund has allowed our young people at Hackney Quest to develop some amazing projects over the last 7 years such as planning and organising our Silver milestone party celebrating 25 years of Hackney Quest.
“Our young people have also been on international trips to South Africa and Zambia, where they volunteered their time to help children in orphanages and local schools, delivering workshops, teaching tag rugby and participating in community projects.
“Such opportunities would never have been possible for our young people without the youth opportunity funding.”
Hackney council described the programme as “a project by young people, for young people”, due to its involvement of Youth Opportunity Fund Panel Members, who help in deciding how money is spent on activities, in addition to contributing to the community.
Kennedy Nwosu, 19, Youth Opportunity Fund Panel Member said: “I joined the Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund Panel to provide the change that young people need and to provide opportunities for young people to grow and develop. Hackney YOF enables you to achieve, lead projects and empower others.”
Halsey said: “It is so important as it allows young people to really develop their own projects. It is youth participation at it’s best as they take full ownership of the project from planning the project, including budgets, risk assessments etc to then leading the project.”
To apply for a grant, visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-youth-opportunity-funding and download and application form today.
