Aims/priorities: The Youth Centre Recovery Fund is provided and administered by Julia and Hans Rausing Trust. The fund has been established to ensure the sustainability of local youth centres in England that have struggled due to COVID-19, allowing them to remain financially viable and able to re-open or continue to deliver work over spring and summer 2021. Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Impact: how the charity helps young people, and what difference this makes (ie how it improves their wellbeing, increases their life chances and opportunities). How the organisation remains relevant and responsive to young people's needs (including any innovations to come out of COVID-19 that might be taken forward in future). Particular note will be taken of where the young people supported are from disadvantaged groups.
- Sustainability: how the charity is managed (appropriate policies); future sustainability (future income after COVID-19 restrictions are removed); and what the charity has done to increase resilience (reducing expenditure, taking advantage of emergency funding or government support schemes).
- Financial need: experiencing loss of income or deficits; low free reserves; risk of closure or reducing services for financial reasons.
- Value for money: if the charity has fundraising costs, what are these as a percentage of total expenditure; how well does it make use of volunteers (ratio of volunteers to staff).
- Demand: number of centre users (pre-COVID); current numbers/waiting lists.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from registered charities who run youth centres in England. They must offer youth services within a locality and operate out of a fixed space or venue. They should be at risk of being unable to re-open and resume services, of cutting provision, or of permanent closure for financial reasons by the end September 2021.
Grant amount: Not specified. Charities may request the amount needed to cover eligible costs for the period 1 April to 30 September 2021, where this is not met by other confirmed funding. The grant amount will be determined by how well the assessment criteria have been met and the relative financial need across successful applications.
Application process: Applications must be submitted via the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust's Online Application System. This, together with guidance notes, can be found at the Trust's website.
Deadline: 31 March 2021 (4pm).
Contact information: Email admin@jhrtrust.com
Website address: juliahansrausingtrust.org