New Shropshire Youth Transformation Fund opens to develop youth leadership and strengthen local voluntary youth organisations

Organisations working with children and young people across Shropshire are being invited to apply for funding through the new Shropshire Youth Transformation Fund, a programme designed to develop young people’s leadership skills and encourage more adult volunteers into local voluntary youth organisations.

Shropshire Council has commissioned Shropshire Community Foundation to offer the grants to fund short-term pilot programmes which will test and develop youth transformation initiatives for 11 to 19-year-olds.

The Shropshire Youth Transformation Fund will support practical activity that helps young people take an active role in shaping local provision, building their confidence, decision-making and leadership experience. Its focus is on strengthening youth-led services for the future, enabling local groups to create opportunities where young people are supported to lead, influence and contribute to the services and activities that matter to them.

The fund is expected to provide opportunities for Shropshire local authority area charities, community groups, social enterprises and other eligible organisations to develop or expand projects that build youth leadership, recruit and support adult volunteers, and strengthen the capacity of local voluntary youth organisations.

The Shropshire Youth Transformation Fund forms part of the wider national Local Youth Transformation Pilot, through which Shropshire Council was selected as one of 12 pilot Local Youth Transformation areas to receive national support and investment aimed at rebuilding youth services. The local fund will help pilot initiatives, tools and resources developed through the wider partnership, ensuring that learning from the national programme can be adapted in Shropshire’s communities and used to support a stronger, more youth-led local youth offer.

Sonia Roberts, Trustee of the Shropshire Community Foundation, said: “This funding is an important step towards strengthening opportunities for young people across Shropshire. By piloting our new Youth Leadership and Engagement Training Programme and working with partners to better understand local youth provision, we can ensure future investment is shaped by young people’s voices. Our longer-term ambition is to establish a dedicated endowment fund for young people, creating sustainable investment that will benefit future generations across Shropshire.”

Councillor Andy Hall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Shropshire Community Foundation to be able to provide this support to young people across Shropshire by providing grants to local organisations who are doing brilliant work.”

The programme will also provide support for local businesses that want to help local youth clubs and organisations. This includes offering Trusted Adult training and linking businesses and volunteer groups to the national Royal Voluntary Service website, where free DBS checks are available for organisations and volunteers working directly with young people.

Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the application guidance carefully and ensure their proposals clearly demonstrate how they will develop young people’s leadership skills, strengthen voluntary youth provision and support sustainable youth-led activity.

Bids must be submitted online via the Shropshire Community Foundation website by 17 July.