Small & Mighty Fund

PLEASE NOTE THIS FUND IS NOW CLOSED FOR 2025 APPLICATIONS

Guidance Notes

Eligibility

Please note, the Small and Mighty Fund is only open to applications from full YCF members. We will not be able to accept applications from organisations who have not yet applied for membership. If you are not a member and would like to apply for a grant, you will need to submit a membership application, and only once this process has been completed and your membership has been approved should you complete and submit an application for funding.

To be eligible, organisations' legal registered address must be in Camden, unless this address is a private residence outside of the borough, but you physically deliver within the borough. Organisations must be actively engaging with Camden's children and young people.

YCF does not fund CICs that are limited by shares. We do fund CICs that are limited by guarantee.

Applicants must have a bank account with at least two unrelated signatories.

We would expect applicants to have a constitutional document or equivalent.

Applications are only open to members who have not recently (within the last five to ten years) been in receipt of a Main Grant from the John Lyon’s Charity.

Supplementary Schools are not eligible to apply.

Applications are also only open to members whose most recently reported annual income is £250,000 or less. However, if your annual income is only very slightly above the threshold, and you would like to enquire about your eligibility, or you have any other questions, please contact grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk.


Funding

Funding from the Small & Mighty Fund will be considered for the following purpose (though this is not an exhaustive list so do get in touch if you have any questions):

  • After-school/sessional youth work or play provision
  • Weekend youth work or play provision
  • Food and meal provision during the delivery of the above
  • The commissioning of delivery of education, workshops or trainings for young people
  • The cost of public transport for travel for off-site excursions for the delivery of education, workshops or trainings for young people
  • Resources that support the delivery of the project


Funding for core costs is also available for members whose annual income is £100,000 or less. YCF is committed to providing sustainable, unrestricted funding, whenever possible, and encourage micro-organisations to apply for core funding.


What we will not fund:

  • Core costs for organisations whose annual income is above £100,000
  • Ticket prices for non-educational off-site excursions
  • Youth work or play provision that your organisation delivers and would continue to deliver on a regular basis. Applications will be considered for funding to continue or grow existing projects. This only relates to applications for specific projects, and not core cost applications.
  • Summer Holiday programmes


We will consider applications for grants of up to £10,000 in exceptional circumstances. However, we envisage that most grants will be closer to £5,000.

However, the larger the grant amount being requested, the higher the standards will need to be in terms of the evidence and the proposal, including:

  • Very high levels of expected participation (with reasonable cost per child per hour and evidence of strong previous engagement)
  • Exceptional and unique need
  • Exceptional and promising innovation
  • Clear and reasonable budget


We will prioritise applications that demonstrate at least some of the following (depending on whether the funding is for project work or core costs):

  • Clear programme, with times, locations, activities, staffing numbers and expected number of participants
  • Clear and reasonable budget
  • Clear and compelling explanation of the need for the project (or the need for the work that the organisation does if applying for core costs)
  • Evidence provided where requested
  • Innovative, creative and promising provision
  • Depth and/or breadth of impact
  • Programmes or provision that are likely to appeal to children and young people and encourage consistent participation and engagement


Budget Submissions

All grant applicants MUST now use our custom budget template spreadsheet. If suitably required, applicants can add new lines to the table. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for improvements on our new budget template spreadsheet.

Application Formats

We recognise and respect that written applications are not suitable for every individual. Therefore, if you would prefer to submit your application via video format, please e-mail grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk and we will share a guidance document with you.

Q&A Webinar
We will be hosting a webinar to provide more information on the fund and answer questions from interested applicants. This session will be recorded and accessible to watch afterwards. To request a copy of the recording, please e-mail grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk.

Key dates for 2025 funding round:

  • Application window opens: Monday 3rd February 2025
  • Q&A Webinar: Monday 17th February 2025, @14:00 - 15:00
  • Application deadline: Sunday 2nd March 2025
  • Outcomes communicated: W/C Monday 17th March 2025
  • Grant period: Monday 17th March 2025- Friday 13th March 2026
  • Report due: Friday 20th March 2026

Meeting the reporting deadline is crucial, and applicants who foresee challenges in meeting this timeframe are advised not to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Sophie at grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk