Still time to apply for funding for youth projects

Young people in the Royal Borough trying to raise funds for youth group, school or community projects can apply for financial help from the council as part of an innovative scheme launched in the summer.

The message to all 11- to 19-year-olds is - there's still time to bid for funding in the first round of the Youth Voice, Youth Choice scheme, with the deadline for applications Friday 5 October.

The scheme - run by the borough's Youth Council and supported by the Youth Service and the community partnerships team - gives young people the opportunity to bid for funding for projects such as educational trips, training opportunities and new equipment.

The launch of the scheme follows a Youth Council bid to the Big Society Grant to run a young people's version of the borough's popular Your Local Budget scheme which gives residents a direct say in how part of their council tax should be spent by ranking lists of suggested schemes in order of priority.

The £20,000 in the Youth Voice Youth Choice pot is made up of £10,000 from each of the Big Society Grant and the Participatory Budget.

Applications are considered in four categories - individuals, schools, youth groups and targeted groups - and the top four in each category (chosen by the Youth Council) will be displayed on the borough's website for a month-long voting period from 1 to 30 November with the potential for bids to receive up to £2,500 in funding.

A second round of nominations and voting will take place between February and March 2013.

Cllr Eileen Quick, cabinet member for children's services, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for groups of young people or individuals to bid for financial help from the council to help make their chosen projects work.

"So whether you are hoping to buy some new equipment for your youth group or perhaps planning to organise a community event, now is the time to get your applications in.

"Then it will be time for you to make your voices heard when online voting begins in November. The projects you vote for could really make a difference to the people in your local communities."

Application forms are available from www.wamster.org.uk. For further information email youthvoice@rbwm.gov.uk or contact Danny Gomm, youth service projects and programme co-ordinator, on 01628 796744, or Harriet Baldwin, community partnerships co-ordinator, on 01628 796459. Voting details will be available nearer the time.

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