KERRCHING – Youth Opportunity Fund

What is it?

Kerrching – Youth Opportunity Fund is a pot of money that is specifically for young people.

The money comes from the Government who, following the launch of the Youth Matters Green paper introduced the fund to provide young people with the opportunity to influence things they would like to do and places they would like to go in their leisure time.

The fund is:

For all young people aged 13-19 (or up to aged 25 if the young people have special needs)

It is managed by young people from Oldham Youth Council who will be making decisions about the allocation of the funds.  

The fund’s primary aim is to increase things to do and places to go for young people.

In Oldham young people from the Youth Council decided to split the funds into 2 pots-

1. An Area based Pot.
   This pot is for activities that are happening/benefiting young people within their local area. The maximum that can be applied for is £7500
2. A Community Cohesion Pot.
   This pot is for activities that involve young people from across the many diverse communities of Oldham. It must aim to improve or promote community cohesion the maximum that can be applied for is £15,000

To apply for either pot you will need to fill in an application form. Please read the guidance notes before you fill in the application. The Youth Council will identify which pot the funding will be allocated from.

Who can apply?

Any group (3 or more) young people who live in Oldham. Young people must lead applications but these can be supported by an organisation that may assist the activity and accept the monies on behalf of the young people, if they have not constituted themselves as a stand-alone group.

Who can help us?

You can be supported by any organisation that is statutory such as Oldham Youth Service or that is a voluntary or community organisation that has a constitution. If you don’t have anyone to support your organisation please call us and we will pair you up with an organisation that will help.

How do we apply and how will decisions be made?

Applications must be come from and be completed by Young people (an adult helper may assist you to fill in the form but the ideas and the project must come from young people)

Fill in the application form with your group and make sure it is sent in before one of the deadlines. The activity you are applying for cannot start before the application deadline – we will not back pay for activities and projects.

The funding panel will consider all applications and we will short list applications that we think have potential. The final decision will not be made until the applying group have met with the panel at an application meeting.

The application meeting will allow us to find out more about the project or activity you wish to do. It may be that we feel we can fund your activity but not for the amount you originally requested, or we may have a few things we want to talk through with you.

If after the meeting your activity meets our requirements you will be informed that you have been successful in writing. We will endeavour to do this within one week of the meeting. We will then send you an acceptance letter that must be signed by the young person representing the group and the representative from the supporting organisation. Once we have received this back we can release the funding.

Reasons we may reject an application

If your application is not successful at any stage we will inform you in writing explaining why your application has been rejected.

• If we feel the activity or project is dangerous and the relevant safeguards are not in place.
• The money is to be used to duplicate an existing project.
• The activity does not appear to be good value for money.
• The application has not been led by Young people.
• All the grant money has been allocated.
• There is insufficient information on the application form or given at the application meeting

We will not fund the following –

• Individuals – The application must be from a group of Young People (3 or more)
• Activities that take place outside the United Kingdom e.g. overseas trips (unless you are applying for partial funding towards a uniformed organisation convention/ British council funded Youth exchange)
• Management costs to the supporting organisation
• Administrative costs to the supporting organisation
• Equipment, unless it is directly essential to the activity to be undertaken.
• Training costs for staff
• Projects that promote a religion or a political view.

When can we apply?

Applications are assessed twice in the Year.

You can submit an application at any time but the deadlines for applications are as follows.

• Friday 30th May 2008 5pm

• Friday 26th September 2008 5pm

What Financial Information is needed?

We need to know how much you are applying for and details of what you intend to spend the money on. We strongly suggest that you look at 2/3 quotes for goods and services, where relevant. The panel may ask to see evidence that you have shopped around.

We need the bank details of where you want the money to be paid. This must be an account of an organisation or group that has a constitution.

If you are successful you will be required to keep clear financial records. You must keep receipts for everything you spend. Money can only be used for the purpose it was granted.

What other information is required?

If you are successful we will visit you during your activity to see how things are going. This is so we can make sure the activity is going as planned. We will also be able to give you support and assistance should you need it.

At the end of the activity you will be required to submit your financial information as well as an activity evaluation. We will provide successful applicants with forms to fill in for this.

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Oldham Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UT.
Telephone 0161 770 3000