Grant pot opens to help young people into work, reduce crime and improve integration

The Youth Ambition Community & Voluntary Organisations Grant Programme funds projects that support four areas:

• Helping young people gain and maintain employment, education and training
• Improve mental health and wellbeing
• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
• Improve sexual health and relationships

Previous recipients have included:

• £10,000 to Donnington Doorstep to contribute towards supporting children and young people at risk of child sexual exploitation
• £7,500 to VIVA Network to contribute towards engaging with 15 vulnerable young people to give them the opportunity to achieve accredited training
• £6,740 to Yellow Submarine for weekly social evenings for disabled young people to help them build social skills and independence
• £6,282 to Oxfordshire Youth to contribute towards workshops for young girls at Cheney School on health, relationships and empowerment
• £5,000 to Leys Community Development Initiative to contribute towards youth sessions targeting girls and young women in Blackbird Leys

The closing date for applications is Sunday 8 January 2017.

Applications that successfully get through an initial review will be invited to pitch their project to a panel on Monday 30 January and Tuesday 31 January.

It is essential that applicants read through the expression of interest form, criteria and guidance notes before submitting.

The Youth Ambition Community & Voluntary Organisations Grant Programme started in 2013/14.

The programme is part of the City Council’s Youth Ambition programme to build communities by helping and guiding Oxford’s disadvantaged young people.

Councillor Pat Kennedy, Executive Board Member for Young People, Schools and Skills, said: “The City Council will continue to support groups whose work focuses on developing social skills, independence and self-confidence amongst young people in our communities.”