17 youth-led projects have been awarded the Youth Opportunity Fund, an initiative that gives young people between £500 and £5000 to lead projects to shape the spaces, opportunities and futures they want to see in their borough. 

Following our last round of funding, awardees have been busy delivering their projects in their communities. The range of projects we received has been huge and really reflects the diversity of what’s important to young people in our borough. Some of the awarded projects included:

• A cinema screening which brought together local scouts to celebrate Dwayne Fields, Chief Scout and local Hackney resident
• Sewing and quilting workshops
• Football training sessions for girls’ 
• A music band initiative
• A wellness event that brings people together by celebrating their culture
• Residential trips for young people to develop their leadership skills
• A hip hop dance intensive 
• Film screening and workshops to educate young people about the impact and dangers of knife 
• A mentoring and arts programme for young people to support them with their mental health
• A teen club for young people with diabetes, so they can have a safe, inclusive space to connect with others
• A skill-sharing club to cross-promote art, dance, and drama skills between young people
• Textile and printing equipment for a local playground to take part in printing activities safely
• Drama, script-writing and dancing workshops will be used to create a play 
• Pop-up sessions in hospital playrooms and community centres that promote fun and creative activities to ill or recovering children
• Field trip days out in London

Congratulations to our Youth Opportunity Fund awardees who were successful:

• 14th Hackney Scout Group: Celebrating Dwayne Fields – Chief Scout and local Hackney resident
• Hackney Young People’s University (HYPU): United Young Quilters 
• North London Muslim Community Centre – Youth Club: United Through Football
• Bridge House Tenant and Resident Association (TRA): Bridge House Band Project
• Young Hackney: Kingsmead Boys’ Trip
• Hackney Council – Health Spot Steering Group: Wellness Through Our Roots
• Hackney Quest: Leadership Getaway
• Young Hackney: Golden Girls’ Trip
• Mimbre: Hip Hop Dance Intensive
• Immediate Theatre: Don’t Disappear in Silence
• Meirim Illuminating Ltd: RhyTEM Program
• Friends with Diabetes UK: Diabet-Ease Teen Club
• Rise Above: The Talent Troupe
• Hackney Play Association: Expression Through Art and Creativity
• Stoke Newington Youth Hub (Hackney Marsh Partnership): Stoke Newington Fluidity Performing Art Group
• The Cheer-Up Squad: Cheer Therapy Mission
• Kids Konnect Ltd: Hackney Youth Day Out

If you are interested in applying for the next round of the Youth Opportunity Fund, sign up for our newsletter here or follow us on social media to get the latest updates and news from Young Hackney.