Find out how you can get up to £5000 for a project, activity or residential through the Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund. For anyone aged 8 - 19 (up to 25 if you have support needs).
Zion, a member of the Hackney Children in Care Council, OVOC, Chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Looked-after Children. Read more here
posted by: Administrator
Want £5000 to make your dream a reality?
Over the last year, the YOF Panel has been giving out grants of up to £5k for a huge number of projects dreamt up by young people in Hackney. All the panel members are aged between 13 – 19 year old, and it’s their job to read through applications to the Youth Opportunity Fund, and decide which ones are going to receive the money.
The kind of projects the panel will fund include sport, dance, music, drama, arts, outdoor adventure; as well as projects focusing on issues such as relationships, health, crime, the environment, history, culture, identity. But, whatever the activity, the important thing is that the proposed projects should provide opportunities for young people’s personal and social development.
Panel member DJ sums it up: 'It’s a brilliant concept, it’s youth-led and judged by youth. We’re in control…it’s never usually youth calling the shots, usually there’s adult intervention at some point. But with YOF there’s no limits, no horizons: you get to do what you want to do and learn something at the same time.’
This year the panel has handed out grants to:
Why apply for the fund? The panel members tell you what you can get out of the experience…
Ola
'The young people who receive funding get to be more independent. Most times in youth projects, young people go by the status quo….but this is a chance for you to say what’s going to happen… and it’s not something small; you get up to £5K.'
Kristina
'You take the risk in getting to where you want to go to.'
Precious
'It’s youth empowerment in action. It gives young people the chance to be leaders, gives them confidence, allows them to aspire… and it’s good for them to engage in the community.’
Juwon
'We’re just helping them to do what they want to do. It’s a great opportunity for children and young people, they get experience of finding out things for themselves; they don’t have adults doing it for them.'
And what did the panel members get out of the experience?
Latica
'You meet new people,people you wouldn’t normally hang with.'
Tola
It’s a chance to inspire other young people, make other young people.
Rebecca
'As a panel member I enjoy making one person’s dream a reality.'
Matthew
'This panel is so diverse, that’s what it’s really about. The YOF expresses and celebrates the love of diversity in, how can I describe Hackney…this amazing area!’
YOF funds activities for young people aged 13-19 living in Hackney (and up to the age of 25 for those who are disabled or have a learning difficulty). Projects should be led by young people but must be supported by a well placed adult. The next application round closes on Wednesday 17 November 2010 at 5 PM. Visit the YOF information pages
For more information contact Linton Harper on 020 8356 2865 / 07896 168661 or email: linton.harper@hackney.gov.uk
Latest posts:
