Money for youth projects

The newly created East Sussex YouthBank has up to a million pounds to hand out to groups of young people in the county over the next two years to fund projects to improve youth activities, facilities and their communities.

The money in YouthBank is from the Government's Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) which is administered by East Sussex County Council. And with applications set to open on May 4 young people are being encouraged to come up with ideas for projects now.

Under the funding process young people are involved at every stage - they put forward their ideas and bid for funding, a panel of young people decides which projects should get the cash and then the young people themselves participate in the projects.

Over the past three years the YOF has handed out more than 1.5m in grants to more than 500 groups which have benefited more than 10,000 young people across the county.

Applications for funding from YouthBank will be possible once the application forms are published at the start of May. They are welcome from all young people aged 13-19 living in the county and to be considered for a grant the young people have to complete the application form and meet some simple criteria. All applications have to be supported by an adult from an affiliated youth or community organisation.

More basic information on YouthBank is available on the East Sussex County Council website at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/youngpeople or by contacting Tracey Johnson, YouthBank Co-ordinator, Ocean House, 2nd Floor 87-89 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 6DH or by emailing [email protected]