London,
07
April
2017
|
11:11
Europe/London

New foundation offers grants to boost youth services in Camden

A new foundation, formed to protect and boost youth services in Camden, has launched its first grant funding programme for local organisations to apply for. The deadline is next Friday (14 April).

The Young Camden Foundation (YCF) sees Camden Council joining forces with voluntary and community organisations, companies and entrepreneurs from the business community locally to take full advantage of expertise and opportunities across the youth sector.

YCF aims to generate more funding for services than is now available, thanks to its charitable status.

The foundation is run by a board comprising the Council, youth and community organisations, the Youth MP, John Lyon’s Charity, police, NHS and leading businesses.

At an event on 16 March the Young Camden Foundation announced £60,000 is now available for youth projects that help to break down barriers to create ‘One Camden’. Examples areas of such work could include:

  • Intergenerational work - projects that bring together people of all ages
  • Volunteering - projects that encourage young people to volunteer within their local community in Camden
  • Working with cultures other than your own - projects that encourage young people to work across Camden’s diverse communities.

The £60,000 will be allocated as follows:

  • One grant of up to £10,000 for a project that will benefit communities across Camden (rather than specific areas)
  • Eight grants of up to £5,000
  • Five grants of up to £2,000.

The deadline to apply for funding is Friday, 14 April and all projects must have a completion date before 31 December 2017. In order to apply for grants, applicants must be a registered member of the Young Camden Foundation.

Cllr Georgia Gould, Cabinet Member for Young People, Adults and Health
The Young Camden Foundation is an innovative new cross-sector partnership, bringing the voluntary and community sector, Camden businesses, funders and the public sector together to support opportunities for all young people in Camden.

I’m really excited about the launch of our ‘One Camden’ small grants programme and we’re looking forward to seeing some applications from local organisations that will harness some of the best talent and ideas to benefit young people and bring together different generations and cultures.

We also want as many organisations to become members and supporters of the foundation as possible to help us protect youth services in the face of continuing cuts from central government.
Cllr Georgia Gould, Cabinet Member for Young People, Adults and Health

One member of the YCF board is Stephen Greene, founder of Rock Corps, a pro-social production company that uses music to inspire people to volunteer and get involved in their community.

Commenting on the foundation, Stephen said:

“The foundation is already bringing together an exciting range of organisations from across various sectors - all of whom have an interest in helping our young people to fulfil their potential. Society works best for young people when it has full and combined participation from the business, government and social sectors. Camden has some of the best of all three.

“My company, Rock Corps, is delighted to be part of something that is pooling knowledge and passion to make a real difference to the lives of young people in Camden.”