NCC launch grant to support uniformed youth groups
Uniformed youth groups across Northumberland are to benefit from thousands of pounds in funding to support their work in the community.
A £25,000 fund was launched last week by Northumberland County Council and successful applicants could receive up to £1,000.
The aim of the fund is to support uniformed groups in providing services to young people and to help contribute to the county’s recovery from Covid-19.
Funding is available for both capital and revenue schemes and applicants can access 100 per cent grant funding with no matched funding required.
In particular the scheme is seeking to help encourage more children and young people to access uniformed group activities and encourage more volunteers to support the work of uniformed groups. The fund also aims to promote activities that demonstrate partnership and innovation.
Examples of schemes that could be eligible include the purchase of equipment, travel or activity costs or uniform contributions. It will also be particularly helpful in assisting groups to adapt to new ways of delivering activities, in light of the ongoing threat from the pandemic.
Northumberland County Councillor Wayne Daley cabinet member for children’s services said: “Uniformed youth services play a key role in so many childhoods, helping to instil good values in young people which are carried through as they mature. They bring people together for fun, adventure and friendships while teaching valuable life skills, such as planning, teamwork and resilience.
“We know there are large numbers of volunteers in the county and we hope this fund will open up further opportunities for more people to get involved in volunteering.”
To apply for the Uniformed Services and Associated Group Organisations Fund the applicant must be a charitable or voluntary not for profit organisation. Examples include girlguiding, scouting, police cadets, young firefighters, St John’s Ambulance cadets, air training corps, sea cadets, army cadets and the girls and boys brigade.
The fund is a local addition to a national initiative launched by the Government in 2018 to increase opportunities for disadvantaged children to take part in youth organisations. This is now being extended by Northumberland County Council to support and promote the role of uniformed services and groups in the county.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 17 July 2020. Details of how groups can apply through the council can be found at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/uniformedgroups#communitychest-uniformedyouthgroupsfund
For more information, please contact: communitychest@northumberland.gov.uk
Article by Northumberland County Council.
