Are you 11-19 (or up to 25 with SEND) and have a great idea to make life better for you and other young people in Hackney?  Want to inspire others to get more involved in their community or learn new skills?

Now’s your chance – apply to our Youth Opportunity Fund!

Applications for Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund will be open from Monday 27 October until Monday 24 November at 5pm. Application forms and guidance can be found below.

What is the Youth Opportunity Fund?

The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) is a pot of funding available to young people, aged 11-19 years old, or up to 25 with a disability or learning difficulty, who live, go to school, work or attend a youth provision in Hackney.

All projects should be youth-led, as we believe it gives young people the power to shape the spaces, opportunities and futures they want to see in their borough. Young people are involved in coming up with the project idea, planning the project, writing the bids and making it happen. 

Young people can apply for up to £5000 to run a project or activity that will benefit their peers. You can request any amount between £500 and £5000.

Who can apply?

All group members must be aged 11-19 years old, or up to 25 with a disability or learning and also either live, go to school, work or attend a youth provision in Hackney.

Additionally, you must be part of a group. Your group needs to be made up of three or more young people and you must be linked to a community organisation, youth organisation, school or college. Your adult sponsor should be from this organisation. 

How can I apply?

Applications to the Youth Opportunity Fund are now closed. We’ll be reviewing applications and notifying successful applicants shortly.

Project timeline:

• First stage: Applications are open from Monday 27 October – Monday 24 November
• Second stage: If your group is successful, you will be invited to have an informal discussion with our youth panel in early December, where they will ask you a few questions about your project
• Projects will be awarded at the end of December 2025
• The project funding should be spent by 31 March

This is what we are looking for in projects:

If you want your project to stand out, we’d love to see at least one of the following:

• Promoting equality and diversity: We aim to celebrate the diversity within our community and create a fairer, more inclusive society. We will prioritise applications from marginalised groups, such as LGBTQI+ young people and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• Helping young people to become stronger and more resilient: We want to support young people to better manage challenges, setbacks and difficult situations, enabling them to recover and bounce back more quickly. We will prioritise applications that improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
• Community cohesion: We want to bring young people and communities together – building understanding, respect and collaboration across different backgrounds. We will prioritise applications that inspire young people to connect with and learn from other communities.
• Improve the health and wellbeing of young people in the borough: We will prioritise applications that support young people experiencing anxiety-related school avoidance and promote positive mental health
• Preparing young people for future success: We will prioritise projects that develop work-related skills and support career exploration and progression

What kind of projects can I do?

We’ve gathered some ideas that you might be able to do, depending on your project:

Examples:

• Creative arts, theatre or events – helping young people express themselves and explore new interests.
• Learning resources – supporting education, homework or personal development.
• Campaigns for change – raising awareness and challenging inequality or oppression.
• Health and activity – encouraging young people to stay active and look after their wellbeing.
• Community events – bringing people together and raising aspirations.
• Trips and experiences – offering educational or residential opportunities that build confidence.
• Workshops and debates – creating spaces for young people to learn, share ideas and have their voices heard.
• Training or work skills – helping young people prepare for future careers.

How do we assess projects?

The panel that assesses the applications is made up of young people from Hackney Youth Parliament and the wider community of young people in Hackney. If you’d like to be a part of the panel that assesses these projects, please contact akinaokoye@hackney.gov.uk

If you have any questions about the fund, please contact charlene.brown@hackney.gov.uk