The Youth Opportunity Fund is open now until Sunday 9 August! Application forms and guidance can be found below.

“We need to see Hackney becoming a space where young people thrive. That is why we are excited to say that Hackney Youth Parliament’s Youth Opportunity Fund is back for yet another year!! We want to see young people designing projects that reflect what matters to them and their community. We cannot wait to see applications from young people who are passionate about making a difference and creating opportunities for others. We are interested in projects that link to one or more of our key themes!”

– Hackney Youth Parliament

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?

The application process will have two phases. In the first phase, your group will be asked to complete an application form answering the application questions. These applications can be submitted by emailing elp@hackney.gov.uk by before midnight on Sunday 9 August. Please read the application guidelines before starting your application form document (printable pdf also available here). The second phase will involve an informal presentation to the assessors.

This is what we are looking for in projects:

Hackney Youth Parliament have laid out five project themes which align with their manifestos. Your project must align with at least one key theme, which are:

• Democracy & Leadership: Hackney Youth Parliament are looking for projects that help young people speak up and lead the way. They want to see projects that leads change in your school or community, upskilling and educating your peers around leadership, social action and/or creating ways to talk directly to decision-makers.
• Health, Wellbeing & Spaces: Empower your peers about their rights in relation to the law accessing health services. Supporting your physical and mental wellbeing, handling life’s challenges, and making Hackney a safer, more welcoming place to be for young people.
• Equality, Inclusion & Justice: Helping to create a borough where everyone is  respected for exactly who they are, with zero barriers based on background, disability, or identity. We prioritise projects tackling bullying or racism, initiatives helping you understand your legal rights, and inclusive spaces led by or supporting young people with SEND.
• Opportunities & Pathways: This theme focuses on building practical life skills they don’t teach you in school. Encouraging and promoting mentoring, youth participation and  enrichment (access to sports, hobbies, and creative arts).  
• Accessible Education & Connection: Ensuring that everywhere you go to learn whether a school, youth center, or training program is safe, fair, and exciting. Hackney Youth Parliament want projects that remove barriers to learning, provide better setups for people with SEND, and create cool spaces where communities can connect through art, music, or gaming.

Hackney Youth Parliament would love to show up for groups that may not have access to the same opportunities others will. Therefore, we will prioritise applications from under-represented groups, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as projects that challenge inequality, discrimination, and injustice.

What kind of projects can I do?

Hackney Youth Parliament have gathered some ideas of what your project could aim to achieve. 

Examples:

• Democracy & Leadership:
  • Breaking down how local and national government works so you can use it to your advantage.
  • Creating new ways for young people to talk directly to decision-makers for example discussion events with local councillors.
• Health, Wellbeing & Spaces:
  • New ways to get mental health support in comfortable spaces, activities to manage stress and build confidence, and ideas that make your neighborhoods or online spaces feel safer.
• Equality, Inclusion & Justice:
  • Projects that tackle bullying, racism, or unfair treatment.
  • Helping you understand the law and the justice system so you can protect yourself and others
• Opportunities & Pathways:
  • Learning things they don’t teach in school, from coding and creative arts to life skills.
  • Real-world experience, mentoring, and tips for the working world
  • An event that looks into future career pathways.
  • Better access to sports, hobbies, and fun activities that help you grow.
• Accessible Education & Connection:
  • Projects that aim to teach skills for different groups of young people for example, a learning group for neurodivergent young people
  • A project that would make your space or activity more accessible to all young people in the borough.

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 elp@hackney.gov.uk

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

“This is not JUST Hackney Youth Parliament’s project – this belongs to ALL young people. So please, take this incredible opportunity to show the power that is young people. Thank you and good luck!”

– Hackney Youth Parliament