• Should I apply for Scaling Up or Reaching Out?
• Where can I find the application form?
• How are you funded?
• Can we meet to discuss my application?
• Will you reconsider my project the next time?
• If my project is granted funding, does The Youth of Today Leadership Fund then own it?
• What can the money be spent on?
• Do I have to provide you with a budget?
• Do you fund projects anywhere in the UK?
• Does my organisation have to be a charity or a social enterprise?
• I really need help now. Can you get back to me before the deadline?
• Can I post my application and supporting documents?

Should I apply for Scaling Up or Reaching Out?

If you decide to apply to us, we encourage you to think about which funding stream is best suited to your organisation. This isn’t solely about the amount of money you can apply for, but what projects you would like to get funding for. Check the definitions of Scaling Up and Reaching Out to help you decide. If you are unsure which one is right for you, email us telling us your requirements, and we’ll help you decide.

Where can I find the application form?

To download the application form for Scaling Up, you must first pass the online eligibility check. This can be found in the how to apply section and will be available when the fund opens in February.

How are you funded?

The Youth of Today Leadership Fund is part of The Youth of Today, a consortium of leading youth organisations. Currently, our grants are funded and supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Communities and Local Government.

Can we meet to discuss my application?

If we review your application and feel it could be suitable for The Youth of Today Leadership Fund, we will contact you to hold a telephone interview to discuss things further. For information on our process, please download the guidance notes (right click on the link and select "Save target as...").

Will you reconsider my project the next time?

If we have decided not to work with you in a given funding round, you can apply again, but not for at least six months. For information on our process, please download the guidance notes (right click on the link and select "Save target as...").

We evaluate applications based on a range of factors. These include the potential positive social impact projects will have on young people, evidence of innovation, scaleability, sustainability and the passion and commitment of your team.

Sometimes you can have all these things in place, but we will come to the conclusion that we wouldn't be able to add value to your project. We have limited funds to distribute and sometimes this means we can’t fund all of the brilliant projects we see.

If my project is granted funding, does The Youth of Today Leadership Fund then own it?

No. Our goal is to help you realise your project’s ambitions and achieve the positive impact you want to see. On occasions where there is an established team and intellectual property is a central element, a discussion about equity stake and partnership would naturally evolve. On other occasions, an agreement of partnership becomes the central model.

What can the money be spent on?

When we decide to make the award, we will agree with you what our goals and milestones should be. We will not use this agreement to control your development and our funding is often unrestricted. We recognise full cost recovery.

Do I have to provide you with a budget?

We will ask you to draw up a budget in your application form. You can include extra information if you wish, but we are not looking for fancy business plans so much as great ideas with good people behind them.

Do you fund projects anywhere in the UK?

The Youth of Today Leadership Fund can only fund projects in England.

Does my organisation have to be a charity or a social enterprise?

You have to be registered as a charity or a company with charitable aims, but we have a mixture of charities, social enterprises and for-profit businesses in our portfolio. We don’t mind what kind of organisation structure you go for, as long as we believe that it meets our criteria, that you have to have social aims written into your constitution, and that you have an asset lock on any profits to ensure that they are directed towards fulfilling your social aims.

I really need help now. Can you get back to me before the deadline?

We’re afraid not. We will get back to you two weeks after the deadline. For information on our process please download the guidance notes (right click on the link and select "Save target as...").

Can I post my application and supporting documents?

We would prefer that you email your application to us, but you can send your supporting documents via post to: